Captain Gerry "Dutch" Tritz, is a native of Kirkland, Washington.  He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1999 with Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering.  After earning his wings of gold, he reported to VMFAT-101 in MCAS Miramar, California for training in the F/A-18 Hornet.

Captain Tritz’s sea assignments include VFA-22 “Redcocks” as a junior officer deploying on USS CARL VINSON (CVN 70); VFA-14 “Tophatters” as a training officer deploying on USS NIMITZ (CVN 68); VFA-147 “Argonauts” as a department head deploying on USS RONALD REAGAN (CVN 76); executive officer and commanding officer of VFA-192 “Golden Dragons” deploying on USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN 73) and twice on USS CARL VINSON (CVN 70).  He participated in Operations TOMODACHI, NEW DAWN, and ENDURING FREEDOM.

Ashore, Captain Tritz served as a Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor assigned to the Strike Fighter Weapons School Pacific at NAS Lemoore; Afghanistan team lead for Force Generation and principal Afghanistan advisor to the Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe in Mons, Belgium; and Senior Evaluator in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Director of Operational Test and Evaluation in Washington, D.C. He recently served as Deputy Commodore Joint Strike Fighter Wing at NAS Lemoore while qualifying in the F-35C Lightning II, Joint Strike Fighter.      
 
He graduated with distinction from the United States Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island, with a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies.  He is the 2017 Chief of Naval Air Forces Leadership Award recipient.  Captain Tritz has received numerous other personal and unit awards.