A native of Randolph, NJ, Commander John Rashap graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 2007 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering and from Johns Hopkins University in 2017 with a Masters of Science degree in Systems Engineering. He has received his Joint Professional Military Education Phase I from the US Air Force’s Air Command and Staff College.

Afloat, Commander Rashap served in Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron FOUR (HS-4) at NAS North Island, CA, flying the SH-60F and HH-60H aircraft. While serving in HS-4 under CVW-14 in the USS RONALD REAGAN Carrier Strike Group, he deployed to SEVENTH Fleet and FIFTH Fleet, supporting OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM and OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM. Additionally, on the 2011 deployment, he performed Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief operations in Japan as part of OPERATION TOMODACHI following the devastating earthquake and tsunami in North Honshu and the Fukushima nuclear reactor disaster. He held the position as the Maintenance Department Quality Assurance Officer as HS-4 transitioned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron FOUR (HSC-4) in 2012. For his Aviation Department Head tour, he served in Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron NINE (HSC-9) in Norfolk, VA, under CVW-8 and the USS GERALD R. FORD Strike Group. He held both the Operations Officer and Maintenance Officer positions. Early in his tour at HSC-9, he was selected to deploy as Officer-in-Charge of HSC-28 Det 5 in 2019 aboard the USNS COMFORT (T-AH-20), where he performed SOUTHCOM humanitarian operations under OPERATION CONTINUING PROMISE in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean.

Ashore, he reported to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron THREE (HSC-3) as a Fleet Replacement Squadron Instructor in January 2013. While at HSC-3, Commander Rashap was selected to attend the US Naval Test Pilot School in NAS Patuxent River, MD where he arrived in July 2013. Commander Rashap graduated from the US Naval Test Pilot School in June 2014 with Class 145 and reported to HX-21 in the summer of 2014, serving as an H-60S/R/F/H and TH-57C Category C Developmental Test Pilot. While at HX-21, he served as an off-site testing detachment Officer-in-Charge for three different test projects, and project officer for eight developmental test projects to include Dynamic Interface/Visual Landing Aid testing for a first-of-class ship and the Terrain Awareness and Warning System (TAWS). In January 2017, Commander Rashap reported to Singapore to serve as a Flag Aide for Commander, Task Force SEVEN THREE (CTF-73)/Commander Logistics Group Western Pacific. In November 2021, Commander Rashap reported to the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Financial Management and Comptroller (OASN FM&C) in the Pentagon where he served as a DoN Investments Budget Analyst (FMB-2) in support of budget programs for R&D and procurement.

Commander Rashap reported in January 2024 to VRM-50 as the Executive Officer. He has flown over 30 T/M/S aircraft and executed over 2,400 flight hours. He has been awarded one Meritorious Service Medal, five Navy Commendation Medals, one Navy Achievement Medal, two Humanitarian Service Medals, and the Battle Efficiency “E”. He is married to Lieutenant Elan H. Bresslour-Rashap, USN, M.D. who is currently in Otolaryngology residency training at Navy Medical Center San Diego.

Last Updated: 31 January 2024