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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

Contributed by Don McGrogan, BMCS, USN Ret.- Popular Patch

USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19)

CAPT Waits, Timothy Lee, USN
Commanding Officer

Capt. Tim Waits is a native of Anniston, Alabama and a graduate of the University of Alabama, holding both undergraduate and graduate degrees in Aerospace Engineering. In August 2000, he was designated a Naval Aviator and received orders to Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 101 (VMFAT-101) for initial training in the F-18 Hornet.

After VMFAT-101, he was assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron 25 (VFA-25) in October 2001. With the “Fist of the Fleet,” he deployed aboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Southern Watch in Iraq, and later returned to the Arabian Gulf for the initial strikes of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He completed a second cruise with VFA-25 aboard USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74).

Capt. Waits was subsequently selected for U.S. Naval Test Pilot School (TPS) and reported as a member of Class 129 in August 2005 in Patuxent River, Maryland. After graduating from TPS the following June, he reported to Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 31 (VX-31) in China Lake, California.

At the completion of his tour at VX-31, Capt. Waits reported as a Department Head to the “Golden Dragons” of VFA-192 in Atsugi, Japan where he served as Safety Officer, Maintenance Officer, and Operations Officer. He completed multiple deployments throughout the Pacific and Indian Oceans aboard USS George Washington (CVN 73). Afterwards, he was assigned to the NATO Maritime Component Command (MCC) in Naples, Italy.

Capt. Waits assumed duties as Executive Officer of Strike Fighter Squadron 86 (VFA-86) in November 2013, and took command of the Sidewinders in January 2015. In May 2016, he detached from the Sidewinders and reported to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV) N98 in the Pentagon as the F-18E/F Requirements Officer. In December 2018, Capt. Waits reported aboard USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) as Executive Officer.

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