CDR Phillip Walker
Commanding Officer
Commander Philip Walker was designated a naval aviator in 1997. Commander Walker participated in Operation SOUTHERN WATCH with the "Sidewinders" of VFA-86 aboard the USS JOHN F. KENNEDY (CV 67). He transferred to VFA-106 in 2001 for duty as an instructor pilot and the Assistant Training Officer. Commander Walker completed a department head tour with VFA-34. While assigned to the "Blue Blasters", he participated in Operation IRAQI FREEDOM (OIF), naval aviation liaison duties and theater security cooperation operations throughout the US Pacific Command area of responsibility.
In 2006 Commander Walker transferred to Washington, D.C. for duty as a defense budget and acquisition analyst on The Joint Staff (J8). Concurrent with this assignment, Commander Walker served as an Individual Augmentee to Commander Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa as the Country Coordination Element Officer-in-Charge at the US Embassy, Kampala, Uganda. He filled a subsequent post as a Federal Executive Fellow at the Atlantic Council of the United States.
Commander Walker earned a bachelor of science in Mechanical Engineering from the Virginia Military Institute and a Masters of International Public Policy from the Johns Hopkins University School for Advanced International Studies. His personal decorations include a Joint Service Commendation Medal, an Air Medal, two Navy Commendation Medals, Joint Achievement Medal, two Navy Achievement Medals and various campaign and service ribbons. He has accumulated over 2,000 tactical jet flight hours and over 400 carrier landings. Commander Walker assumed the title of Executive Officer of the VFA-37 Ragin Bulls on Friday July 8, 2011.