Commanding Officer
Cmdr. Andrew "Sugar" Stoner
Cmdr. Andrew “Sugar” Stoner, a native of South Bend, Indiana, graduated from the United States Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering in 2008. He was designated a naval aviator in Meridian, Mississippi, in 2011.
In 2011, Stoner was assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 106 in Virginia Beach, Virginia, for initial training in the F/A-18 Super Hornet. After completing his training in 2011, he reported to the “World Famous Pukin’ Dogs” of VFA-143 aboard Naval Air Station (NAS) Oceana, Virginia. During this tour, he completed two combat deployments with Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 7 aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) where he flew missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
In 2015, Stoner attended the Naval Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN) in Fallon, Nevada. Following graduation from TOPGUN, he joined the TOPGUN Staff as an instructor and served as the F/A-18 Defensive Countermeasures subject matter expert until 2019.
Upon selection for operational department head, he reported in 2019 to the “Fist of the Fleet” of VFA-25 at NAS Lemoore, California, where he served as an Admin Officer, Maintenance Officer, and Operations Officer. While at VFA-25, he deployed aboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) with CVW-7 and flew combat missions in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel while completing an around the world cruise from Virginia to California.
Following his department head tour, Stoner reported to the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) J5 Strategic Planning and Policy Directorate, to serve as the deputy to the director of the J52 Strategic Planning, Posture, and Assessments division, at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida.
Stoner now serves as the Commanding Officer for VFA-131.
Throughout his service, he has flown both the F/A-18 and F-16 and has accumulated over 2,500 flight hours and more than 400 carrier landings. He is authorized to wear various personal, unit, and campaign awards.