EAWS
Commanding Officer
CDR Garrick was born in Honolulu, Hawaii and spent most of his school-age years in Orange Park, Florida. After graduating with distinction from the United States Naval Academy in 1994, he earned the Zipf Scholarship to study international relations at the Ruprecht-Karls University in Heidelberg, Germany. He went on to earn his wings of gold in November 1997 and then reported to NAS Whidbey Island for fleet replacement training in the EA-6B Prowler.
After completing the syllabus at VAQ-129 in April 1999, CDR Garrick joined the GARUDAS of VAQ-134 during a combat deployment to Aviano, Italy in support of Operation ALLIED FORCE. He deployed with the squadron four more times in support of Operations NORTHERN WATCH and SOUTHERN WATCH before transferring to the Electronic Attack Weapons School as a Prowler Tactics Instructor in April 2002. As Defensive Tactics Phase Head, Operations Officer, and Training Officer, CDR Garrick helped conduct fourteen EA-6B Advanced Readiness Programs and six Prowler Tactics Instructor courses.
CDR Garrick then reported to the ZAPPERS of VAQ-130 in October 2005, where he served as Electronic Warfare Officer, Safety Officer, and Maintenance Officer. While attached to VAQ-130, he completed one deployment to Iwakuni, Japan and one aboard USS HARRY S. TRUMAN (CVN 75) in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM.
In May 2008, CDR Garrick reported to the newly established US Africa Command in Stuttgart, Germany, where he was assigned as a watch officer in the Directorate for Operations and Logistics and later served as the command’s Emergency Action Cell Chief. After a two-year tour at AFRICOM, CDR Garrick returned to NAS Whidbey Island for transition training in the EA-18G Growler. He assumed his current duties as Executive Officer of the Electronic Attack Weapons School in June 2011.
CDR Garrick’s personal decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal (five Strike/Flight awards), the Aerial Achievement Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (two awards), the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and he was the 2001 recipient of the LT Bob Dark Award for Naval Aviation Excellence. CDR Garrick has logged over 2,100 flight hours in tactical aircraft.
CDR Garrick is married to the former Nadia Baumgartner of Brest, France. They have two children: Morgane and Sean.