A native of Rockville, Md., Captain J.W. “Vespa” Stigi graduated from Duke University in 2002 and upon commissioning, began flight training at NAS Pensacola, FL. After earning his Wings of Gold in June of 2004, his first operational tour was with the “Jolly Rogers” of VFA-103 deploying to the Arabian Gulf aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. 

Capt. Stigi reported to the Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN) at NAS Fallon, NV, in April of 2008 for the Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor course.  Upon graduation, Capt. Stigi remained on Staff as a TOPGUN Instructor, serving as the TOPGUN Training Officer and U.S. Navy Subject Matter Expert on Laser Guided Weapons and Tactical Crew Coordination.

Following his tour in Fallon, Capt. Stigi joined the “Red Rippers” of VFA-11 in July 2011 as the Training Officer.  During this tour, he deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom on the final cruise of the USS Enterprise (CVN 65).

Capt. Stigi reported to Atsugi, Japan, and the “Diamondbacks” of VFA-102 in May 2013, serving as a department head in the administrative, operations, and maintenance departments.  During this tour, he deployed three times to the Western Pacific as a member of the Forward Deployed Naval Forces aboard USS George Washington (CVN 73).

Capt. Stigi returned to TOPGUN as the Executive Officer in September 2015.  During his second tour at TOPGUN, he served as an Air Wing Instructor at the Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center and as the U.S. Navy Subject Matter Expert on Fighter Integration.  

Capt. Stigi joined the “Redcocks” of VFA-22 as Executive Officer in November 2018 and assumed command in June 2020, deploying on USS Nimitz (CVN 68) in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, Freedom’s Sentinel, and Octave Quartz.  As commanding officer, VFA-22 earned the 2020 Commander, Naval Air Forces, Pacific Fleet Battle Effectiveness Award and the 2020 RADM C. Wade McClusky Award, for the highest performing FA-18E/F squadron in the Navy.

In August 2021, Capt. Stigi attended the United States Naval War College in Newport, R.I., where he graduated with distinction, earning a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies.

Capt. Stigi reported for his third tour at TOPGUN, as the Commanding Officer, in July 2022.  He then served as NAWDC’s Air Wing Training (STRIKE) Department Head starting in September 2023. He assumed duties as Deputy Air Wing Commander for Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9 in March 2025.

Capt. Stigi has accumulated over 4,100 tactical flight hours and 850 carrier arrested landings. His awards include the Meritorious Service Medal (3 awards), Strike/Flight Air Medal (4 awards), and various other campaign and service ribbons.  Capt. Stigi is married to Jessie Stigi, a former Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor, from York, PA, and they have two sons.