Captain Stephen Kirby, USN

Commanding Officer

Captain Kirby is a native of Alexandria, Virginia. Following graduation from Loyola University, New Orleans, Louisiana, he was commissioned through the Aviation Officer Candidate School in January 1982 and received his Naval Flight Officer Wings in October 1982.

After completing EA-6B fleet replacement training, Captain Kirby reported in February 1984 to Electronic Attack Squadron ONE THREE FIVE (VAQ-135). He made deployments to the Mediterranean and Indian Ocean on board USS AMERICA (CV 66) and USS CORAL SEA (CV 43) participating in Operation ELDORADO CANYON.

Captain Kirby's next assignment was to the Naval Strike Warfare Center, NAS Fallon, Nevada, where he served as the Electronic Warfare Tactics Officer. In March 1990, he transferred to the staff of Commander, Carrier Air Wing FOURTEEN (CVW-14) to be the Strike Warfare Officer. During this tour, he completed a deployment to the Persian Gulf on board USS INDEPENDENCE (CV 62) in support of Operation DESERT SHIELD.

He reported to Electronic Attack Squadron ONE TWO NINE (VAQ-129) in November 1991 for flight instructor duty. While at VAQ-129 he served as Assistant Operations Officer and Administrative Officer. In December 1992, he joined Electronic Attack Squadron ONE THREE ZERO (VAQ-130) for a Mediterranean deployment on board USS JOHN F KENNEDY (CV 67) in support of Operations PROVIDE COMFORT, PROVIDE PROMISE, and DENY FLIGHT. While in VAQ-130 he served as Safety, Administrative and Operations Officer.

Captain Kirby reported to the Medium Attack Weapons School, Pacific (MAWSPAC) as Executive Officer in October 1994 and became the first Commanding Officer of the Electronic Combat Weapons School in September 1995. In July 1999, he joined VAQ-135 as Executive Officer and assumed command in October 2000. The squadron deployed to Incirlik, Turkey in support of Operation NORTHERN WATCH and on board USS CARL VINSON (CVN 70), participating in Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. In February 2002, he reported for duty as Head of Aviation Commander Assignments at Navy Personnel Command in Millington, Tennessee. In June 2005, he assumed Command Naval Aviation Schools Command, NAS Pensacola. He reported to his current assignment; Chief of Staff for Commander, Carrier Strike Group EIGHT in July 2007.

Captain Kirby is a graduate of the Naval War College, Newport, RI and the Canadian Forces College, Toronto, Ontario. He has flown over 3300 hours in the EA-6B and A-6E aircraft, accumulating over 600 carrier landings. His awards include the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (3 awards), the Air Medal (3 Strike/Flight), the Navy Commendation Medal (5 awards) and the Navy Achievement Medal.

Lieutenant Colonel Steve Sims, USMC

Executive Officer

Lieutenant Colonel Sims is a native of New Albany, Mississippi and enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1988. He was discharged as a Corporal in August 1990 to accept an NROTC scholarship. He was commissioned in 1993 through the NROTC Program at the University of Mississippi. Upon completion of The Basic School in Quantico, and Armor Officer Basic Course in Fort Knox, Kentucky in 1994, he was assigned to 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division. He served as a Tank Platoon Commander in Company D and served as the Tank Platoon Commander for the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (SOC).

In June 1996, he was assigned to Marine Corps Recruiting Station in Denver, Colorado where he served as the Operations Officer and Executive Officer. In 1999 he attended the Armor Officer Advanced Course and Calvary Leaders Course at Fort Knox. In February 2000, he was reassigned to 1st Tank Battalion where he served as Commanding Officer of Company A and Headquarters and Service Company.

In April 2002, he was reassigned as the Inspector and Instructor, Anti-Tank Training Company, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. In June 2004, he deployed as an individual augment with the Multi-National Corps-Iraq, as a ground Watch Officer until January 2005. In September 2005, he was assigned to Joint Task Force-Katrina and served as the Future Operations Officer for the Hurricane Relief effort along the Gulf Coast.

In August 2006, Lieutenant Colonel Sims was assigned to 2d Tank Battalion where he deployed on a Military Transition Team in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). In December 2007, he was assigned as the Executive officer, 2d Tank Battalion until May 2008. In June he was reassigned to II Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters and placed in charge of a Brigade Military Transition Team, and from October 2008 to July 2009, served as the Operations Officer for Regional Border Team South.

Lieutenant Colonel Sims' personal awards are the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Commendation Medal, the Navy-Marine Corps Commendation Medal (with Gold Star), and the Navy-Marine Corps Achievement Medal (with Gold Star).