After growing up on both coasts and overseas, Commander Kemp graduated from the College of William & Mary in 2003, earning a Bachelor of Science in Biology and was commissioned in 2005 through Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, FL. He graduated from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary in 2009 with a Master of Arts in Religion. 

After being designated as a Naval Aviator in January 2008, he reported to VFA-106 for initial training in the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. CDR Kemp began his operational flying in January 2009 with the “Swordsmen” of VFA-32 at NAS Oceana, VA and deployed onboard USS HARRY S TRUMAN (CVN 75), participating in Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.    

CDR Kemp reported to the VFA-106 “Gladiators” in January 2012 as a flight instructor and in December 2012, he graduated from the Navy’s Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN) and was designated as a Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor.  He was selected as the 2014 CSFWL FRS Instructor Pilot of the Year.

In January 2015, CDR Kemp reported as the Training Officer of the “Tophatters” of VFA-14 in NAS Lemoore, CA and completed a deployment aboard USS JOHN C STENNIS (CVN 74) to the Western Pacific.

CDR Kemp, in January 2017, reported as a Department Head in VFA-11, the “Red Rippers”.  He completed two deployments aboard USS HARRY S TRUMAN (CVN 75) in support of Operation INHERENT RESOLVE and artic operations off Norway.  He was the recipient of the 2018 CSFWL Mike Longhart and the Navy and Marine Association Leadership Awards and was selected as the 2019 AIRLANT Pilot of the Year.

Ashore, CDR Kemp served as a Requirements Manager of Federated Interoperability at the NATO Allied Command Transformation, in Norfolk, VA from 2019 to 2021.  He reported to the “Golden Dragons” of VFA-192 as the prospective Executive Officer in June 2022.

CDR Kemp has accumulated over 3,500 flight hours and 600 carrier arrested landings. His awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, two Strike/Flight Air Medals, four Navy Commendation Medals, the Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal and various service awards and ribbons.

Last Updated: 23 September 2022