Naval Flight Officer - Notable NFOs

Notable NFOs

Captain Richard Dunleavy was the first NFO to command an aircraft carrier, the USS Coral Sea (CV 43). He previously flew in the A-3 Skywarrior, A-5 Vigilante, RA-5C Vigilante and A-6 Intruder. Later in his career, he was promoted to Rear Admiral and Vice Admiral, and was the first NFO to hold the since disestablished position of Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Air Warfare (OP-05). He retired in 1993.

Rear Admiral Benjamin Thurman Hacker was the first NFO flag officer, having been selected in 1980. He previously flew in the P-2 Neptune and P-3 Orion. He retired in 1988.

Rear Admiral Nora W. Tyson was the first female NFO to command a warship, the amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD-5), and the first female naval officer to command an aircraft carrier strike group, Carrier Strike Group Two, aboard the USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77). She previously flew in the land-based EC-130Q Hercules and the E-6 Mercury TACAMO aircraft.

Vice Admiral David C. Nichols was the Deputy Coalition Air Forces Component Commander (Deputy CFACC) during Operation ENDURING FREEDOM and Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. He was the first NFO to command the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center, the second NFO to command a numbered fleet, the U.S. 5th Fleet and was later Deputy Commander of U.S. Central Command. He previously flew in the A-6 Intruder. He retired in 2007.

Vice Admiral Harry B. Harris, Jr., is the first NFO from the land-based maritime patrol aviation community to command a numbered fleet, the U.S. 6th Fleet. He previously flew in the P-3C Orion.

Admiral William Fallon, an NFO who flew in the RA-5C Vigilante and the A-6 Intruder, was the first NFO to achieve 4-star rank. In 2006, he was appointed by President George W. Bush to lead U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM). He had previously commanded U.S. Pacific Command (USPACOM) and U.S. Fleet Forces Command as a 4-star Admiral prior to his USCENTCOM assignment, and as a 3-star Vice Admiral, was the first NFO to command a numbered fleet, the U.S. 2nd Fleet. He retired in 2008.

General William L. Nyland, USMC was the first Marine Corps NFO to achieve 4-star rank as Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps. As a Lieutenant General, he was also the first NFO to serve as Deputy Commandant for Aviation. He previously flew in the F-4 Phantom II and the F/A-18 Hornet, and he retired in 2005.

General James E. Cartwright, USMC was initially qualified as a Marine Corps NFO in the F-4 Phantom II before attending pilot training as a Captain and being redesignated as a Naval Aviator, subsequently flying as a pilot in the F-4, the OA-4 Skyhawk and the F/A-18 Hornet. He was the eighth Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He previously served as the Commander, U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM), from September 1, 2004 to August 10, 2007, and as Acting Commander, U.S. Strategic Command from July 9, 2004 to September 1, 2004. He assumed the vice chairmanship on August 31, 2007 and retired in September 2011.