Commander Ian “Zoo” Adams is a native of Fairfax, Virginia and graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 2005 with a Bachelor of Science in Political Science and a Minor in Japanese.  He holds a Master of Business; from the Naval Postgraduate school and completed the Joint Warfighting School at the National Defense University.  He earned his wings of gold in May of 2007

At sea, he served as NATOPS and Quality Assurance Officer (QAO) at Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron TWO-ONE where he deployed twice to the 2515th Naval Air Ambulance Detachment in Basra, Iraq and Udairi, Kuwait flying MEDEVACs in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn.  He also served as flag aide to the Commander Carrier Strike Group NINE aboard “America’s Flag Ship,” USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) and USS George Washington (CVN-73).  During his department head tour, he serves as the maintenance and operations officer at Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron SIX attached to Carrier Air Wing SEVENTEEN aboard USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT (CVN-71).  He completed a C3/5/7F deployment in support of TRI-CVN OPS in the Sea of Japan, Operation Inherent Resolve, and Operation Freedom’s Sentinel. Additionally, he served as the Executive & Commanding Officer of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron TWO-ONE.  As the Commanding officer, HSC-21 deployed five detachments in support of FIFTH & SEVENTH Fleet operations.  Additionally, the squadron received Safe to Operate (STO) for the MQ-8C Autonomous vehicle and was awarded the Battle Effectiveness Award for FY22.

His shore tours include service at Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron THREE as a Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS) instructor pilot where he served as the lead standardization pilot and was the Squadron’s 2013 Pilot of the Year.  He also served at US AFRICA COMMAND HQ in Stuttgart, Germany, as a Joint Future Operations Planning Officer (J-35) and as the Executive Assistant to the Director of Operations, ACJ3.  Most recently, he served on the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV) staff.  Specifically, he was a Director of Aviation (N98) requirements officer for the MQ-8C Fire Scout and the Future Vertical Lift (Maritime Strike) FVL (MS) programs.

Commander Adams has over 3,100 flight hours in both fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft and earned qualifications in the MH-60S Seahawk and MQ-8B/C Fire Scout Unmanned Air Vehicles. His personal awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), Strike/Flight Air Medal (three awards), Navy Commendation Medal (four awards), Army Achievement Medal, and various unit and campaign awards.  He was the Helicopter Sea Combat Wing Pacific (HSCWP) Pilot of the year for FY18.

Last Updated: 19 November 2024