Captain Daryle D. Cardone is a native of Nanticoke, Pennsylvania.  He graduated from Wilkes University with a degree in music education in 1993.  He holds a Master of Arts in National security and strategic studies from the Naval War College.  He received his commission through the Officer Candidate School program in December 1995.  He is also a graduate of the Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN) Air Intercept Controller course and the Carrier Airborne Early Warning Weapons School (CAEWWS).
 
Operational assignments include two tours with Airborne Command and Control Squadron (VAW) 125, VAW-121, and as executive officer aboard USS George Washington (CVN 73) during her refueling and complex overhaul.  His command tours include VAW-121, earning the Battle Efficiency award, the RADM Frank Akers Award for Airborne Early Warning Excellence, the Grampaw Pettibone Award, and was selected as the 2013 Secretary of Defense PHOENIX maintenance award nominee for Naval Air Force, Atlantic; and USS Lewis B. Puller (ESB 3), a first-in-class expeditionary sea base vessel that serves as an afloat forward staging base in the Naval Forces Central Command area of responsibility in support of naval special warfare and airborne mine countermeasures missions.
 
Shore assignments include tours as an instructor with VAW-120 and as a plankowner of the Hawkeye Weapons and Tactics Unit, Atlantic.  He has served on the staff of the chief of naval operations as special assistant to the director, Flag Officer Management and Distribution (N00F) in Washington, and as executive officer of the E-2D Hawkeye and C-2A Greyhound community Fleet Replacement Squadron, VAW-120.  Cardone also served in the Office of the Secretary of Defense as the Navy military assistant to the DoD executive secretary and as the trip coordinator for the secretary and deputy secretary of defense. 
 
Cardone has more than 2,800 flight hours and made over 700 carrier-arrested landings.  He has flown more than 120 combat missions in support of Operations Deliberate Forge, Southern Watch, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.  He is authorized to wear the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal (four awards), Strike Flight Air Medal (Bronze Numeral Four), as well as various personal, unit, service and campaign decorations.

Last Updated: 13 October 2022