Captain Andrew "GRAND" Mariner

Deputy Commander, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 11

22 October 2020 A native of Fargo, ND, CAPT Mariner graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 2000 with a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering and a commission as an Ensign. Upon receiving his wings in November 2002, he reported to the “Flying Eagles” of VFA-122 at NAS Lemoore, CA for initial training in the FA-18E Super Hornet.

Following initial training, CAPT Mariner reported to the VFA-14 “Tophatters” and CVW-11 based in Lemoore, CA where he completed two combat deployments embarked in USS Nimitz (CVN-68) in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM (OIF) and one deployment in support of a homeport change for the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76). Upon completion of his first fleet tour he was selected to attend the Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN) at Fallon, NV with follow-on orders to the “Outlaws” of Strike Fighter Weapons School Pacific (SFWSP) in Lemoore, CA. While assigned to SFWSP, CAPT Mariner was the A/A Employment SME and Annex Department head.

CAPT Mariner returned to the fleet in January 2009 as the Training Officer of the VFA-27 “Royal Maces”, homeported at NAF Atsugi, Japan and embarked in USS George Washington (CVN-73). While attached to the Forward Deployed Naval Forces he completed two Western Pacific deployments and multiple detachments in support of international operations and exercises.

In March 2011 he reported to the “Golden Dragons” of VFA-192 homeported in Lemoore, CA as a department head. During this tour he completed back-to-back combat deployments with CVW-9 embarked in USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM (OEF) and Operation NEW DAWN (OND). Following his department head tour, CAPT Mariner reported to Newport, RI to attend the U.S. Navy War College. During his time in Newport he was also a member of the Naval Staff College. In June of 2014 he received an M.A. in National Security and Strategic Studies and JPME Phase I certification.

In June 2014, CAPT Mariner reported to the “Gunslingers” of VFA-105 as the Executive Officer. In July 2015, he assumed command and led the Gunslinger Team through a workup cycle and a combat deployment in support of Operation INHERENT RESOLVE (OIR) with CVW-3 embarked in USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69). Upon completion of his command tour in December 2016, CAPT Mariner reported to the Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center in Fallon, NV as the TOPGUN Department Head. In May 2018, CAPT Mariner assumed duties as the STRIKE Department Head at NAWDC. During his time in Fallon, CAPT Mariner was directly involved with four TOPGUN classes and 11 Air Wing Fallon exercises. In October 2018, he was selected for Major Command at Sea (CVW) and slated to “Team Barbwire” of CVW-11.

CAPT Mariner has accumulated more than 3,600 flight hours in multiple T/M/S and has over 850 carrier arrested landings. His awards include multiple personal, campaign, and unit citations..