Philip Waddingham

Philip L. Waddingham (born September 8, 1962) is a Captain in the United States Navy.

College education

Captain Waddingham is a 1984 graduate of The Pennsylvania State University where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in communication studies and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps via the Platoon Leaders Class program. Following a Department of the Navy initiative to meet increased pilot training requirements, he graduated from The Basic School in Quantico, Virginia, and performed an inter-service transfer to the Navy in March 1985.

Early career

Captain Waddingham began his Naval Aviation indoctrination training at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida, in April 1985, and completed primary flight training with Training Squadron 2 at NAS Whiting Field, Florida, in September 1985. He then received orders to Training Squadron 23 at NAS Kingsville, Texas, to begin intermediate jet pilot training. Prior to his arrival, he served as the logistics officer for Commander, Training Air Wing 4 from September 1985 to December 1986 while waiting to start T-2C Buckeye training. Captain Waddingham completed undergraduate jet pilot training with the "Golden Eagles" of Training Squadron 22 in January 1988, and was designated a Naval Aviator on February 5, 1988.

From April to December 1988, Captain Waddingham flew with the "Vikings" of Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 129 during initial fleet replacement training in the EA-6B Prowler aircraft. From January 1989 to June 1991, he deployed with the "Scorpions" of Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 132 embarked in USS "Saratoga" (CV-60). He served as plans and tactics officer, personnel officer, and aircraft division officer while also participating in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.

Gulf War I

Following his combat tour with the "Scorpions", Captain Waddingham returned to NAS Kingsville, serving as the personnel officer and safety department head with the "Fighting Redhawks" of Training Squadron 21 from August 1991 to June 1994. Here, as part of the initial cadre of instructors training in the T-45A Goshawk, he accumulated 900 hours flying both the TA-4J Skyhawk and T-45 Goshawk, while earning a Master of Aeronautical Science Degree (Management) from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

Post Gulf War duties

Captain Waddingham attended the Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama, from August 1994 to June 1995. After graduation, he returned to NAS Whidbey Island, Washington, for EA-6B refresher training and a follow-on fleet department head tour. A Plankowner of the VAQ-133 "Wizards", he served as administrative and maintenance department heads for the Navy's second expeditionary Prowler squadron from March 1996 to March 1998, making the squadron's maiden deployment to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan. Upon completion of his tour, he attended the Armed Forces Staff College in Norfolk, Virginia.

Following his phase two Joint Professional Military Education, Captain Waddingham reported to the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) at MacDill Air Force Base, in Tampa, Florida. Serving as integration and plans branch chief in the automated information systems division, center for intelligence and information operations (SOIO-AIS-IP), he was responsible for integrating and implementing architectural changes to the SOCOM global command and control network.

In September, 2000, Captain Waddingham returned to NAS Whidbey Island to for EA-6B refresher training and assumed the responsibilities of Prospective Commanding Officer of the VAQ-143 "Cobras" from July 2001 until November 2002, where he oversaw the pre-establishment activities of the Navy's fifth expeditionary squadron.

Gulf War II

Captain Waddingham then reported to the VAQ-134 "Garudas" as Executive Officer, and participated in their final Operation Northern Watch deployment, as well as rapid re-deployment to Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Captain Waddingham assumed command of VAQ-134 on February 5, 2004 and deployed in April 2004 to Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Upon completion of his command tour in May 2005, Captain Waddingham returned to VAQ-129 for refresher carrier qualification training, and in July reported to Commander, Carrier Strike Group Ten as Air Operations Officer where he flew with Carrier Air Wing Three and VAQ-130 onboard USS "Harry S. Truman" (CVN-75). Additionally, Captain Waddingham made a surge carrier strike group deployment with the USS "George Washington" (CVN-73) Carrier Strike Group in support of Coalition Operation, Partnership of the Americas. Captain Waddingham then volunteered for an Individual Augmentee assignment to Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, Cuba before returning to his duties with the USS "Harry S. Truman" Carrier Strike Group as Future Operations and Air Operations Officer. Captain Waddingham has logged over 3,300 total flight hours. His decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal (with Gold Star), Meritorious Service Medal (with Gold Star), and numerous other combat, unit, individual and campaign awards. He assumed command of Naval Air Station Kingsville on August 3, 2007.