XO Biography

COMMANDER DANIEL L. GARCIA
UNITED STATES NAVY 

Commander Garcia was commissioned an Ensign when he graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1988 with a Bachelors of Science degree in Oceanography.   He was designated a Naval Flight Officer in 1989 and reported to the EA-6B Prowler Replacement Air Group (RAG) of Electronic Attack Squadron ONE TWO NINE (VAQ-129) at Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island, Washington.

Upon designation as an Electronic Countermeasures Officer (ECMO), Commander Garcia reported to the Scorpions of VAQ-132, embarked in USS SARATOGA (CV-60) and deployed to the Red Sea in support of Operation DESERT SHIELD.  Participating in Operation DESERT STORM, Commander Garcia flew 14 combat missions over Iraq.  In 1992, Commander Garcia deployed once again with the Scorpions onboard CV-60, this time to the Mediterranean.

Commander Garcia reported to the Axemen of VAQ-309 in 1993.  Upon their disestablishment that year, he transferred to VAQ-129 for duty as a Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS) Instructor.  There, Commander Garcia qualified as a Naval Aviation Training and Operational Procedures Standardization (NATOPS) Instructor and served as the Familiarization/Navigation Phase Head and Aircrew Coordination Training Phase Head.  During this tour, he received a Masters of Science degree in Human Resources Management (HRM) through Chapman University.

In 1997, Commander Garcia was sent to the Combined Air Operations Center (CAOC) for temporary duty (TDY) in the Fifth Allied Tactical Air Force (FIFTH ATAF) at Dal Molin Air Base in Vicenza, Italy.  A member of the Electronic Warfare Coordination Cell (EWCC), he supported air operations over the Former Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) during Operation DELIBERATE GUARD.

Commander Garcia commissioned the expeditionary squadron of the Fighting Phoenix of VAQ-128 in 1997, where he served as the Personnel Officer (PERSO), Safety Officer (SO) and Aviation Safety Officer (ASO).  Deployed to Prince Sultan Air Base (PSAB) in Al Karj, Saudi Arabia, he qualified as Supression of Enemy Air Defense (SEAD) Lead and flew in Operation SOUTHERN WATCH and combat missions of Operation DESERT FOX.  Following a second deployment to PSAB, Commander Garcia transferred to his Department Head (DH) tour with the VAQ-135 Black Ravens, where he served as Electronic Warfare Officer (EWO) and Operations Officer (OPSO).  With VAQ-135, he deployed to Incirlik Air Base, Ankara, Turkey, where he flew in Operation NORTHERN WATCH and qualified as Strike Lead and Package Commander.

In 2001, Commander Garcia again reported TDY to the Balkans CAOC at Dal Molin Air Base to support the air missions over Kosovo during Operations JOINT FORGE and JOINT GUARDIAN.  From there, he transferred to the Headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Command (HQ USPACOM).  An Action Officer (AO) in the Special Technical Operations (STO) Branch of the J-39 Information Operations (IO) Division of the J-3 Operations Directorate, Commander Garcia was hand-picked by the Commander, Admiral Fargo, to establish and act as Chief of J-38, the PACOM Operational Concept Research Application Group (POCRAG), to explore ways to leverage new and existing technologies in support of existing warplans.

In 2004, Commander Garcia reported to the Talons of Tactical Air Control Squadron TWELVE (TACRON 12) onboard Naval Amphibious Base (NAB) Coronado, California.  During this tour, he served as Officer in Charge (OIC) of Detachment FOUR (Det 4), a Naval Support Element (NSE) to Commander, Amphibious Squadron ELEVEN (COMPHIBRON 11).  Manning the Tactical Air Control Center (TACC) in USS ESSEX (LHD-2), Det 4 participated in Maritime Support/Maritime Interdiction Operations (MSO/MIO) of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM in the Northern Arabian Gulf (NAG) and tsunami relief efforts near Sumatra, Indonesia during Operation UNIFIED ASSISTANCE. 

Commander Garcia reported as Executive Officer, Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) Unit, San Diego, in August, 2007. 

Commander Garcia has logged more than 2,300 flight hours in the EA-6B Prowler and over 300 carrier arrested landings.  His personal decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, two Individual Air Medals (with Combat “V”), five Strike Flight Air Medals, Aerial Achievement Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, five Navy Commendation Medals (2 with Combat “V”), two Joint Service Achievement Medals, Navy Achievement Medal, and various unit and campaign awards.