Executive Officer
Cmdr. Derek "Gringo" Jimenez
Cmdr. Derek “Gringo” Jimenez was commissioned in December 2008 through Officer Candidate School (OCS) in Newport, Rhode Island. He then reported directly to Aviation Preflight Indoctrination (API) in Pensacola, Florida, before continuing flight training at Training Squadron (VT) 2 in Milton, Florida, flying the T-34C Turbo Mentor aircraft followed by a tour at VT-35 in Corpus Christi, Texas, flying the TC-12B Huron aircraft.
Upon receiving his “Wings of Gold” as a naval aviator in October 2010, Jimenez reported to the P-3C Orion aircraft Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS), Patrol and Reconnaissance Squadron (VP) 30, in Jacksonville, Florida, where he received initial training on the P-8A Poseidon. He then joined the “Tridents” of VP-26, serving as Aircrew Division Officer, Assistant Operations Officer and Pilot Training Officer. He qualified as Mission Commander (MC), Instructor Pilot (IP), Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) and Navigator, and Alternate Naval Air Training and Operating Procedures Standardization (NATOPS) Instructor during his tour. He also served as Officer in Charge (OIC) for detachments to Australia and Peru. During his time with VP-26, the squadron completed two deployments to the U.S. 5th Fleet in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, and Inherent Resolve and one deployment to the U.S. 7th Fleet, earning three Battle Efficiency or Battle "E" awards.
In March 2015, Jimenez was selected to receive initial training on and instruct the P-8A Poseidon aircraft at VP-30. While assigned to VP-30, he served as Assistant Ground Safety Officer and Fleet Integration Training (FIT) transition lead for VP-4 and VP-47, overseeing the transition from the P-3C Orion to the P-8A Poseidon aircraft. He led the selection and training of FRS instructors for both squadrons, located in Whidbey Island, Washington, and Jacksonville, Florida.
Jimenez was then selected to fly for Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV) Sea Duty Component (SDC), Navy Detachment Dallas (NDD), Texas, where he flew both the P-3C Orion and P-8A Poseidon aircraft. He also served as Aviation Safety Officer and Maintenance Officer while assigned to NDD.
After being selected department head, he was assigned to Special Projects Patrol Squadron (VPU) 2 in Jacksonville, Florida. Jimenez was the first senior pilot for the squadron after its transition to the P-8A Poseidon aircraft, following its homeport change from Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, to Jacksonville. During his tour at VPU-2, he also served as Safety/ Naval Air Training and Operating Procedures Standardization (NATOPS) Officer and Operations Officer.
Most recently, Jimenez served as the OPNAV N-98 requirements officer for P-8QRC, EP-3E, and Minotaur, aircraft in the Multi-Mission Branch. His time in N-98 included the successful sundown of the EP-3E and the expansion of the P-8QRC and Minotaur programs. He reported to Fleet Area Control and Surveillance Facility Jacksonville, Florida, in November 2025 to assume duties as Executive Officer.
Jimenez is a graduate of the University of Florida, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.
Jimenez’s personal awards include Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals (five awards) He is also a commercially qualified Airline Transport Pilot, with Multi-Crew Coordination and Multi-Crew Interaction certifications.