Official websites use .mil
Secure .mil websites use HTTPS
Capt. Damon Loveless earned his undergraduate degree at the United States Naval Academy where he received a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering and was commissioned in 2001. He holds a Master of Science in Global Business Leadership from the University of San Diego as well as a Certificate in Legislative Studies from Georgetown University’s Government Affairs Institute. He is also a graduate of the Joint Forces Senior Staff College in Norfolk, Virginia. He earned his Wings of Gold in Kingsville, Texas in 2003.
He served operational tours in three strike-fighter (VFA) squadrons: the “Pukin’ Dogs” of VFA-143, the “Eagles” of VFA-115, and the “Tomcatters” of VFA-31 where he served as Executive Officer and Commanding Officer; he also served an operational tour with Carrier Strike Group EIGHT Staff as Flag Aide to the Commander. His initial fleet aircraft was the F-14B Tomcat with VFA-143, deploying in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. During this tour he transitioned to the F/A-18E Super Hornet and deployed again with VFA-143 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom as well as Horn of Africa operations. With Carrier Strike Group EIGHT he participated in exercise Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) 2011. As a Department Head with VFA-115 he deployed multiple times in the Indo-Pacific area of operations, conducting numerous combined and joint exercises, as well as participating in disaster relief in the Philippines during Operation DAMAYAN in 2013 in response to Super Typhoon Haiyan. In command of VFA-31, he led the squadron during exercise Northern Edge 2019 as well as a 2020 deployment to the Indo-Pacific area of operations, forward deployed during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic.
Ashore, he was an instructor pilot with the “Flying Eagles” of F/A-18 Fleet Replacement Squadron VFA-122, a 2010 DoD Legislative Fellow serving in Congressman Rob Wittman’s Office (VA-01), a Branch Chief on the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs’ of Staff in the J-6 Directorate, and as the 2019-2020 U.S. Navy Hudson Fellow at Oxford University.
He reported as Executive Officer of USS Abraham Lincoln in August 2023.
Capt. Loveless accumulated more than 3,000 flight hours with over 750 carrier arrested landings. His personal decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Strike/Flight Air Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (three awards), Joint Service Achievement Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and numerous unit awards and citations.
Last Updated: 22 August 2023