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Commander Kent Gebicke

Commander Gebicke is a native of Brinklow, MD and earned his commission through the Reserve Officer Training Corps on December 17, 2004.
Upon completion of Aviation Preflight Indoctrination, he reported to NAS Whiting Field, Milton, FL where he completed his primary flight training in VT-2 and his advanced flight training in HT-18, earning his Wings of Gold on March 9, 2007.
 
Commander Gebicke’s operational assignments include tours with the Scorpions of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light FOUR NINE (HSL-49), Iron Gator (LHD-2 USS ESSEX), and the Blue Hawks of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron SEVEN EIGHT (HSM-78).   
 
Commander Gebicke’s conducted his first two deployments with HSL-49; a SOUTHPAC aboard USS McCLUSKY (FFG-41) with Det Three (Dope Monkeys) and to Fifth Fleet area of responsibility (AOR) with the NIMITZ Strike Group aboard USS PINCKNEY (DDG-91) as Det TWO (The Tenacious Det) Maintenance Officer. As the Assistant Air Officer in USS ESSEX, he attained his Officer of the Deck Underway qualification, and conducted his third deployment, in support of OPERATION INHERENT RESOLVE in Fifth Fleet AOR. With HSM-78, in support of Carrier Air Wing Two assigned to the CARL VINSON Strike Group, he served in myriad positions including Safety Officer, Combat Element Two Officer in Charge aboard USS WAYNE E. MEYER (DDG-108), Operations Officer, and Maintenance Officer. He participated in three Air Wing Fallon Exercises, conducted his fourth and fifth deployments, this time to Seventh Fleet AOR, and operated in the Rim of the Pacific Exercise 2018.
 
Ashore, Commander Gebicke served as an Instructor Pilot in HT-8 and attained his civilian Air Transport Pilot FAA certification. In 2019, Commander Gebicke transferred to the Pentagon as a member of the Joint Staff, J-3 Joint Operations Directorate, Global Force Management to serve as a Secretary of Defense Orders Book team member, responsible for writing global deployment orders to be briefed to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Secretary of Defense.
 
Commander Gebicke is the son of Mark and Beverly Gebicke, and is married to the former Ashley McElroy, a 2009 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and 2019 graduate of Pepperdine University School of Law. Together they have a daughter, Cora Gebicke, age 1. Commander Gebicke holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Engineering Management from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio and a Master of Operations Research from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. His personal awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, and other campaign and unit awards. He has accumulated over 3,700 flight hours.

Last Updated: 28 July 2023


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