CDR Johnson, of Lakeland, TN., received his commission from the United States Naval Academy in 2002 and was designated a naval aviator in June, 2004. Following flight school he received orders to the “Rough Raiders” of VFA-125 at NAS Lemoore for F/A-18C Hornet training.
CDR Johnson’s first operational fleet assignment was with the “Vigilantes” of VFA-151 at NAS Lemoore, Cal. from 2005 to 2008. He then completed assignments at the U.S. Navy Test Pilot School, VX-23, VFA-143, and the U.S. Air Force Air Command and Staff College.
CDR Johnson reported to the Rampagers as executive officer in August, 2018.
CDR Eric Thompson, a native of Las Cruces, N.M., is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy. He began pilot training in 2001 and was designated a naval aviator at NAS Meridian, Mississippi in June, 2003. After earning his “Wings of Gold”, he reported to the VFA-106 “Gladiators” for initial F/A-18C Hornet training at NAS Oceana, Virginia. While attached to VFA-83 as a department head in 2011, he deployed with Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 7 onboard the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) for two back-to-back deployments in support of Operation” Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.
In May, 2017 he returned to the Rampagers as executive officer and assumed command of the squadron in August, 2018.
CDR Thompson has accumulated more than 2,400 flight hours and logged more than 500 carrier arrested landings, or “traps.”
CDR Johnson’s first operational fleet assignment was with the “Vigilantes” of VFA-151 at NAS Lemoore, Cal. from 2005 to 2008. He then completed assignments at the U.S. Navy Test Pilot School, VX-23, VFA-143, and the U.S. Air Force Air Command and Staff College.
CDR Johnson reported to the Rampagers as executive officer in August, 2018.
CDR Eric Thompson, a native of Las Cruces, N.M., is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy. He began pilot training in 2001 and was designated a naval aviator at NAS Meridian, Mississippi in June, 2003. After earning his “Wings of Gold”, he reported to the VFA-106 “Gladiators” for initial F/A-18C Hornet training at NAS Oceana, Virginia. While attached to VFA-83 as a department head in 2011, he deployed with Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 7 onboard the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) for two back-to-back deployments in support of Operation” Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.
In May, 2017 he returned to the Rampagers as executive officer and assumed command of the squadron in August, 2018.
CDR Thompson has accumulated more than 2,400 flight hours and logged more than 500 carrier arrested landings, or “traps.”