UNITED STATES NAVY

Commander Woods was born and raised in Ogden, Utah, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. Woods. He attended the U.S. Naval Academy graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1981. Following graduation Commander Woods was assigned to Naval Surface Weapons Center, White Oak, Maryland where he served as a Research Officer. In February 1982, Commander Woods entered flight training at NAS Pensacola, Florida. He was designated a Naval Flight Officer in April 1983 and reported to VAQ-129 for fleet replacement training in the EA-6B Prowler. Joining VAQ-131 in May 1984, Commander Woods completed deployments aboard USS INDEPENDENCE (CV62) with CVW-6 to the Mediterranean and Indian Ocean and to the Western Pacific aboard USS RANGER (CV61) with CVW-2. He served as Electronic Warfare Department Head for the first ICAP to ICAP II EA-6B transition and the first EA-6B fleet HARM missile firing.

In May 1987, Commander Woods was assigned to the Naval Military Personnel Command, Washington DC, serving as Aviation Enlisted Rating Assignment Officer. Following refresher training at VAQ-129 he reported to VAQ-138 in December 1990. He served as Operations Officer, Maintenance Officer, Electronic Warfare Officer and Safety Officer. He completed two deployments to the Western Pacific and Arabian Gulf supporting both Operation DESERT STORM and Operation SOUTHERN WATCH aboard USS NIMITZ (CVN68) with CVW-9.

Reporting to VAQ-129 as an instructor in June 1993, Commander Woods served as Fleet Replacement Training Officer. He was then assigned to Commander Electronic Combat Wing, U.S. Pacific Fleet in September 1994 serving as EA-6B Readiness Officer during the stand-up of four expeditionary EA-6B squadrons. He received the National Navy League Vice Admiral John Perry Award for excellence in Electronic Warfare in July 1995. Commander Woods next attended Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island and graduated with a Masters of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies in March 1997. He reported to VAQ-132 as Executive Officer in May 1997.

Skipper Woods took command of VAQ-132 in August 1998 in a ceremony aboard USS EISENHOWER (CVN69) with CVW-17 in the Adriatic. Under his command the squadron completed the Med/Arabian Gulf deployment. Following a four-month turnaround he led his squadron on a 70 day Expeditionary Deployment to Prince Sultan Air Base, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Scorpions of VAQ-132 under his leadership won the 1998 CNAL Battle"E", 1998 CNO Safety "S", 1998 CNO RADM Arthur W. Radford Award, and the 1999 CVWP "Prowler Maintenance Squadron of the Year".

Currently Commander Woods is the assigned as the Chief of Naval Operations EA-6B and Airborne Electronic Attack Requirements Officer. He is also a member of the Airborne Electronic Attack Secretariat and the User Integrated Project Team Lead for the study of the EA-6B Follow-on.

Commander Woods’ decorations include two Meritorious Service Medals, four Strike/Flight Air Medals, four Navy Commendation Medals, two Navy Achievement Medals and various other service and unit awards. He has flown over 3000 EA-6B flight hours and has more than 760 carrier arrested landings.