Commanding Officer
Cmdr. Brett "Bert" Learner
Cmdr. Brett “Bert” Learner, a native of Reno, Nevada, enlisted in the Navy as an Aviation Electronics Technician in 1997. His enlisted operational assignments include tours at multiple shore stations and aboard USS Enterprise (CVN 65) and USS Nimitz (CVN 68).
He was selected for the Seaman-to-Admiral (STA-21) officer commissioning program in 2003 and commissioned in 2007 upon graduating with honors from Old Dominion University with a Bachelor of Science in Sociology. In 2025, he earned a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership with highest honors from University of Massachusetts Global.
Learner received his “wings of gold” as a naval aviator in 2010. Operational tours include Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VRC) 40 from 2011-2014, deploying aboard USS Enterprise (CVN 65) and USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77); two tours with VRC-30 from 2017-2021 as a department head and Officer-in-Charge, deploying with Carrier Air Wing 9 aboard USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) for its 2018-2019 world deployment; and Fleet Logistics Multi-Mission Squadron (VRM) 40 as executive officer and later commanding officer.
Shore assignments include Training Squadron (VT) 21 from 2014-2017 as a T-45C Goshawk aircraft Instructor Pilot and Landing Signals Officer Phase Head; and Navy Personnel Command, PERS-43, from 2021-2023 as the VRM/VRC Placement Officer and aviation incentive pay and aviation bonus program manager, where he earned a financial management subspecialty.
Learner now serves as the Commanding Officer of VRM-40 as of July 2025.
He has accumulated over 2,800 flight hours in single- and multi-engine, jet, and tilt-rotor aircraft and was selected as the 2014 East Coast Greyhound Pilot of the Year. He has received a number of personal awards which are a direct testament to the officers and Sailors he has had the privilege to serve alongside.