CNATRA R.C. Leadership

Assistant Chief of Staff

Captain Lemon is a native of Beacon, New York. He is a 2002 Secretary of the Navy distinguished graduate from the United States Naval Academy, where he earned a Bachelor's of Science in Political Science. Following commissioning, he earned a Master's of Arts in Government and Politics from the University of Maryland, College Park in 2003. He subsequently reported to NAS Pensacola, Florida, and was designated a Naval Aviator in 2004. He is a 2012 graduate from the United States Marine Corps Command and Staff College Distance Education Program and also a 2021 graduate from the Joint Forces Staff College Joint and Combined Warfighting School.

His operational assignments include tours with the "Warlords" of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light (HSL) 51 in Atsugi, Japan; the "Wolf Pack" of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 75 in San Diego, California; and two tours, including squadron command, with the "Firehawks" of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 85 also in San Diego, California. His deployments include operational and exercise support throughout the Indo-Pacific aboard USS Chancellorsville (CG 62), USS Mustin (DDG 89), USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63), and USS Nimitz (CVN 68), as well as ashore in Japan, Thailand, South Korea, and the Philippines in support of the 353d Special Operations Group and Special Operations Command Pacific.

Ashore, Captain Lemon served as an MH-60R Instructor Pilot duty with the "Seahawks" of HSM-41 in San Diego, California; the Reserve Helicopter Program Manager on the staff of Commander, Naval Air Force Reserve, also in San Diego, California; and as Executive Officer to the Director of the Manpower and Personnel Directorate (J1), the Reserve Affairs Branch Chief, and the Navy Reserve Program Director on the United States Africa Command staff in Stuttgart, Germany. Additionally in 2011, he deployed to Misawa, Japan, to support Operation Tomodachi and coordinated air and humanitarian assistance logistics for Commander, Task Force 76 and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit.

Captain Lemon transitioned to the Selected Reserve in October 2012 and to Training and Administration of the Reserves in September 2013. He is a fully-qualified Joint Officer. Following completion of his joint assignment, he reported to NAS Corpus Christi to assume his current duties as Assistant Chief of Staff for Reserve Affairs on the staff of Chief of Naval Air Training. He has accumulated over 3,400 flight hours, executed more than 500 shipboard landings, and qualified in the H-60 B/F/H/R/S and T-44C. Captain Lemon is authorized to wear the Defense Meritorious Service Medal and the 2020 Battle "E" award earned while commanding the "Firehawks" of HSC-85.