- Brick Conners
Captain Brad “Brick” Conners is the
Commanding Officer atNaval Base Ventura County , one of the largestUS Navy base s in the world.Environmental Excellence, a Navy Core Mission
Captain Conners and his team have earned a reputation as innovative and effective stewards of 20,000 acres of environmentally sensitive beach, lagoon, wetlands, and even the “
Island of the Blue Dolphin ”San Nicolas Island , home to over 120,000California sea lions , 50,000elephant seal s, 500harbor seal s, and 550 archaeological sites. [http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2008/oct/03/navy-to-host-surfing-contest-on-point-mugus/]Management
Naval Base Ventura County employs over 17,000 military and civilian personnel with broad and diverse backgrounds. Captain Conners, with his extensive leadership and education experience, keeps his Team mission focused and the Base mission ready despite challenging resource limitations and continuously evolving global conflicts.
Issues/ Crisis Management and Response: As commander of a large and strategically vital Naval Base Captain Conners manages man made and
natural disaster preparedness, response, recovery, and continuity of operations. With twoairfield s, a deep water port, and a variety of unique capability, Naval Base Ventura County is a critical component of any regionalcrisis plan .Background
CAPT Brad “Brick” Conners reported to Naval Base Ventura County as Commanding Officer following a tour with Commander Strike Force Training Pacific, in San Diego. Naval Base Ventura County employs roughly 17,000 people and is home to a variety of the Navy’s most critical units and directorates.
In 1978, he entered Naval Service via the
U.S Naval Academy , from his hometown ofRochester, New York . Following graduation in 1982, he reported toPensacola, Florida for initial pilot training. He received his wings in May 1984 inBeeville, Texas and proceeded toLemoore, California to fly theA-7E Corsair . In 1990 he transitioned to theF/A-18 Hornet .Afloat, his operational assignments include: VA94 “Mighty Shrikes” (two western pacific deployments onboard
USS Enterprise (CVN65));Air Wing Eleven (CVW-11) Staff (two Operation Southern Watch deployments onboardUSS Lincoln (CVN72)); VFA27 “Chargers” (Department Head for Korean Peninsula deployment onboard USS KITTYHAWK (CV63)); VFA151 “Vigilantes” (Squadron Commander during Operation Southern Watch deployment onboard USS CONSTELLATION (CV64)); Cruiser Destroyer Group ONE (Flag Air Operations and Operations Officer duringOperation Iraqi Freedom /Operation Enduring Freedom deployment onboard CV64; and, Commander Strike Force Training Pacific (Strike Warfare/Air Operations Instructor).Ashore, his assignments include: VT-25 Flight Instructor; Initial TopGun F/A-18 Maintenance Officer; Initial Air Wing Training/ Standardization Officer for newly formed Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center in Fallon NV; and Naval War College Student (Masters degree in national security and strategic studies).
Captain Conners has received the
Legion of Merit , twoMeritorious Service Medal s, oneAir Medal , threeStrike Flight medal s, six Navy Commendation medals (with Valor), and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement medal. During his Command tour, VFA-151 received the Navy’s “Battle Efficiency” award. He has more than 4500 flight hours and 950 carrier landings in several different aircraft. He is married with four children.References
Ventura County Star (daily newspaper) [http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2008/jun/01/spotlight-on-the-naval-base-sought/]Reuters [http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS132196+28-Apr-2008+PRN20080428]Pacific Coast Business Times [pacbiztimes.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=63&Itemid=64 - 28k -]
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