A native of Omaha, Nebraska, Captain Walsh graduated from Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee with a Bachelor of Arts in History. After graduation, he reported to Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, Florida and was commissioned in October 2003. He earned his designation as a Naval Flight Officer in August 2005.

After completing F/A-18 flight training with the Flying Eagles of VFA-122, he was assigned to the Fighting Swordsmen of VFA-32 at Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia, where he served from 2006-2009. Deploying aboard USS HARRY S. TRUMAN (CVN-75), he flew over 40 combat sorties in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM.

CAPT Walsh transferred to shore duty as an instructor with the Gladiators of VFA-106 from 2009-2012. He also participated on the F/A-18F Tactical Demonstration team during the 2009-2010 airshow season. Following his shore tour, he served as a strike training facilitator at Carrier Strike Group FIFTEEN at Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego, California.

In 2015, he returned to the fleet for his department head tour, again with the Swordsmen of VFA-32. There he served from 2015-2017 in the safety, operations and maintenance departments and completed an additional combat deployment aboard USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER (CVN-69) in support of Operation INHERENT RESOLVE.

From 2017-2019 he served as an operational standardization advisor to the NATO Military Committee as part of the NATO Standardization Office in Brussels, Belgium. In November 2020, he reported as Executive Officer of the VFA-154 Black Knights, completing the 2021 Western Pacific deployment aboard USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT (CVN-71). Following his command tour, he earned a Master’s Degree at the Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy in Washington, DC. Reporting as a Requirements Officer at OPNAV N98, he was subsequently selected for Type-Wing Major Command in 2024.

CAPT Walsh has flown over 2,600 total hours in the F/A-18D/F and is a qualified Forward Air Controller (Airborne). His personal awards include an individual commendation from the Director-General International Military Staff at NATO, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Strike/Flight Air Medal (2), Navy Commendation Medal (2), Navy Achievement Medal (3) and various unit and campaign decorations.
 

Last Updated: 27 March 2025