A career aviator who'se racked up more than 4,400 flight hours and 1,066 carrier arrested landings, primarily as an A-7E Corsair and the F/A-18C Hornet pilot, has been tapped as the Navy's new air boss, the Pentagon announced Wednesday.
Rear Adm. Troy "Mike" Shoemaker, the head of Naval Air Forces Atlantic, has been nominated for a third star to become head of Naval Air Forces and Naval Air Force Pacific in San Diego, according to a Wednesday Defense Department release.
Naval Air Forces Atlantic commander Rear Adm. Troy "Mike" Shoemaker has been tapped for a third star as the next Naval Aviation air boss, according to a Wednesday Defense Department release
President Obama Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel nominated Shoemaker to replace current air boss Vice Adm. David Buss, who took command in October 2012, the release said.
Buss' next move has not been decided, AIRFORNaval Air Forces spokeswoman Cmdr. Jeannie Groeneveld told Navy Times.
Shoemaker, a designated naval aviator, graduated from the Naval Academy in 1982. He made his career mainly flying the A-7E Corsair and F/A-18C hornet, racking up over 4,400 flight hours and 1,066 carrier landings, according to his Navy biography.
Afloat, hHe has served as commanding officer of Strike Fighter Squadron 105; Carrier Air Wing 17 and Carrier Strike Group 9, both assigned to the Abraham Lincoln; and Carrier Strike Group 3 aboard John C. Stennis.
His shore assignments include a command tour with fleet replacement squadron VFA-106, head of aviation officer replacement at Navy Personnel Command and assistant commander for career management and NPC.
His awards and decorations include five Legions of Merit, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, three Meritorious Service Medals, and three Air Medals, one with combat "V" and two with strike awards.
Meghann Myers is the Pentagon bureau chief at Military Times. She covers operations, policy, personnel, leadership and other issues affecting service members.
