Executive Officer
Cmdr. Wesley "Flanders" Yancey
A native of Takoma Park, Maryland, Cmdr. Yancey considers Gold River, California, as his home town. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 2003 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering. After completing flight training he earned his “Wings of Gold” in 2005.
His first operational tour was with the "Chargers" of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 26 in Norfolk, Virginia. He deployed with Detachment SIX as part of Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group and 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit in 2006 flying in support of Exercise Infinite Moonlight, Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, and Strengthen Hope. In 2008, he deployed to the Kingdom of Bahrain assigned to Detachment ONE in support of Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/5th Fleet, and maritime security. He was selected for follow on assignment as an instructor pilot with the "Fleet Angels," HSC-2, in 2009.
Selected to attend the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School (USNTPS) in 2010, he initially attended the Naval Postgraduate School for his Master of Science degree in Systems Engineering. He graduate with USNTPS Class 142 and reported to Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (HX) 21 “Blackjack” in 2013. He served as an experimental test pilot and project officer on the H-60 Flight Test Team and the MQ-8C “Fire Scout” Rapid Deployment Capability Integrated Test Team.
In 2015 he was assigned to the “Island Knights” of Helicopter HSC-25 at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, where he served as the Safety, Administrative and Operations Department Head. He deployed as officer-in-charge leading Detachment ONE aboard USNS Wally Schirra (T-AKE 8) and USNS Charles Drew (T-AKE 10) in support of Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group and U.S. 7th Fleet.
Yancey reported to U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa with the “Wolfhounds” of 603rd Air Operations Center at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, in 2017. He served as Chief, Master Air Attack Plans Team, A36/Combat Plans Division, for the Air Component Commander to both U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command.
He was subsequently assigned to the H-60 Multi-Mission Helicopters Program (PMA-299), Patuxent River, Maryland, in 2020 where he served as the Avionics Integrated Product Team Lead. Yancey reported to the “Pioneers,” Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 1e, as the Executive Officer in 2024.
He has been flying for over 30 years in both civil and military aviation with more than 3,600 flight hours in 57 different types of fixed and rotary wing aircraft and has over 800 shipboard landings. His personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation and Achievement Medals, Humanitarian Service Medal, unit awards from the Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard, and various individual and campaign awards which are all a testament to the dedication and teamwork of all those he has had the honor to serve with.