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Captain David "Heavy" Ganci

Captain David “Heavy” Ganci grew up in Jefferson, New York, located in the Catskill Mountain region. He commissioned through OCS in Pensacola, Florida in 1999, and after commissioning, he moved down the street to the flight line, earning his Naval Flight Officer wings.

A member of the VAQ community since 2001, his operational assignment include tours with the “Gauntlets” of VAQ-136 (FDNF), the “Patriots” of VAQ-140, the “Gray Wolves” of VAQ-142, and commanding officer of the “Zappers” of VAQ-130. He has flown in combat during all four of his squadron tours participating in Operations Southern Watch, Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, New Dawn, and Inherent Resolve.

During his shore tours, he has served in a number of training and staff billets. He taught tactics as an instructor at the Electronic Attack Weapons School, in NAS Whidbey Island, Washington. He worked as the Assistant Aviation Officer Community Manager at PERS-43 in Millington, Tennessee. Later, he was provided the opportunity to earn a Master of Arts degree in National Security and Strategic Studies at the United States Naval
War College in Newport, Rhode Island. Post command, he worked in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense – Legislative Affairs (LA), at the Pentagon. While at the Pentagon, he was selected to serve as Aide- de-Camp to Ambassador Kenneth Braithwaite, the 77th Secretary of the Navy.

Reporting to Commander Electronic Attack Wing U.S. Pacific Fleet in August 2022, he took over as Deputy Commodore. Decorations include a Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, an Individual Action Air Medal with combat “V,” Strike Flight Air Medal (6 awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (3 awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (3 awards), and various service awards and ribbons.

Captain Ganci has benefited from the guidance of numerous professional mentors throughout his career, but also by the guidance and counsel from his beautiful wife of 17 years, Jillian Swanson Ganci. Raising their two sons and daughter in the Navy has been challenging, however growing up as military kids, they have cultivated a sense of service and civil literacy that comes from living this unique life. Together Jillian, Rylan, Liam, and Sienna continue to support at home so Dave can lead the men and women of the Airborne Electronic Attack Community in Whidbey Island and across the globe.

Last Updated: 2 February 2024


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