Episode 53: Doug White (EA-6, EA-18)

For episode fifty-three I sat down with CAPT Doug “Cricket” White in his office aboard Naval Air Station Pensacola. CAPT White earned his wings of gold as a Naval Flight Officer in 2002 and he was selected to fly the EA-6B “Prowler” where he deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom while assigned to Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 135. Next, CAPT White was chosen to attend Prowler Weapons School enroute to Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) NINE where he flew weapons test missions in the “Prowler” and developed the initial combat tactics for the then brand-new EA-18G “Growler”. CAPT White served as training officer at Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 132 where he deployed to Iraq in support of Operation New Dawn and then to Aviano, Italy where he flew on night one of Operation Odyssey Dawn conducting combat operations over Libya. Next, CAPT White served as a department head at VAQ-135 and deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom before being selected to serve as Executive Officer and Commanding Officer at VAQ-132 where he led the squadron on an expeditionary deployment in the Western Pacific. CAPT White currently serves as the Commodore of Training Air Wing SIX (TAW-6) where he is the senior officer responsible with overseeing the Navy’s primary, intermediate, and advanced flight training of all Naval Flight Officers and Navy and Marine Corps Air Vehicle Pilots in order to “ensure global security, prosperity, and to project Naval Air Power worldwide”. Thanks as always for taking the time to listen. In the future, I plan to continue to share similar interviews with both current and retired military aviators. If you have a question or a suggestion for a future interview, please reach out directly at safeondeck@gmail.com. “Safe on Deck” episode fifty-three with CAPT Doug “Cricket” White. Enjoy! ** The views and opinions presented on “Safe on Deck” are my own and those of my guests and do not represent the official policy or position of the Department of Defense, the Department of the Navy, or its components. **