Commanding Officer - Captain Thomas V. Halley, Jr

Captain Thomas V. Halley, Jr., USN, Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps Unit Hampton Roads Commanding Officer and Professor of Naval Science is a native of Clarksville, Tennessee. He is a 1981 Graduate of the University of Tennessee with a BS in Economics. In 1984 he received an MBA from Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee. In May of 1985, he joined the Navy and attended Aviation Officer Candidate School, Pensacola, Florida and was commissioned an Ensign in November 1985. He commenced primary flight training at NAS Whiting Field, Florida, and then reported for jet training in Meridian, Mississippi.

Captain Halley received his Wings of Gold from VT-7 at NAS Meridian, Mississippi in May 1987 and reported to VC-10 in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where he flew the venerable A-4 Skyhawk. Completing his initial assignment in March 1990, he reported to VFA 106, NAS Cecil Field, Florida for training in the FA-18 Hornet. Captain Halley's initial fleet assignment was with the VFA-131 "Wildcats" from 1990-1993 where he deployed to the Arabian Gulf onboard USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER (CVN 69) in support of Operation SOUTHERN WATCH and completed the "Shakedown Cruise" onboard USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN 73). In March of 1993, he reported to VFA-106, NAS Cecil Field as an Instructor Pilot and was selected as "Instructor of the Year" in 1995. In May 1996, he reported to the "SUNLINERS" of VFA-81, NAS Cecil Field for assignment as a department head.

While assigned as Administrative Officer, Operations Officer and Maintenance Officer, he deployed aboard USS ENTERPRISE (CVN 65) in May 1996 and USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER (CVN 69) in June of 1998 in support of Operation ALLIED FORCE and Operation SOUTHERN WATCH. In September 1998, he reported to the Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Montgomery, Alabama. In June of 1999 he attended the Armed Forces Staff College in Norfolk, Virginia for three months before reporting to Headquarters United States European Command in Stuttgart, Germany. CAPT Halley reported as Executive Officer of VFA-82 in March 2002 and served as Commanding Officer from July of 2003 through August of 2004. He then served as the Aviation Programs Officer for the Navy's Office of Legislative Affairs in the Pentagon until taking command of Strike Fighter Wing Atlantic from March 2007 until May of 2009. During this assignment he was recognized as the 2009 "Tailhooker of the Year" by the Tailhook Association. In July 2009, CAPT Halley assumed command of Joint CREW Composite Squadron 1 in Baghdad, Iraq. There, he was responsible for fielding, sustainment, and combat readiness for the Counter Radio Controlled IED Electronic Warfare system in Multi-National Corps-Iraq.

Captain Halley has accumulated over 4,000 flight hours and 700+ carrier arrested landings. His military decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal(2), Strike Flight Air Medal, Navy Commendation Medal (2), and numerous campaign and unit awards.