VT-7 Leadership

Executive Officer

A native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, CDR Tom Kellner attended The Citadel, the Military College of South Carolina. He graduated in August 2006 with a Bachelor of Arts in Modern Languages (French) and commissioned through the Reserve Officer Training Corps.

CDR Kellner reported to Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola, Florida for Aviation Pre-flight Indoctrination in October 2006. He completed primary flight training in the T-34C Turbomentor at NAS Whiting Field, Florida and intermediate and advanced flight training in the T-45A Goshawk at NAS Kingsville, Texas. He earned his Wings of Gold in April 2009 and quickly transferred to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 106 "Gladiators" at NAS Oceana, Virginia for initial fleet training in the F/A-18C Hornet.

CDR Kellner began his operational flying in July 2010 with VFA-146 "Blue Diamonds" at NAS Lemoore, California. He remained on the West Coast for the next 10 years, subsequently flying F/A-18 E/F Super Hornets with VFA-122 "Flying Eagles," VFA-2 "Bounty Hunters," and VFA-86 "Sidewinders." He deployed across the globe aboard USS RONALD REAGAN (CVN 76) in 2011, USS CARL VINSON (CVN 70) in 2017, and USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN (CVN 72) in 2019-2020. During those three deployments, he supported Operations NEW DAWN, ENDURING FREEDOM, and FREEDOM'S SENTINEL as well as Operation TOMODACHI, the humanitarian relief effort for the 2011 Japanese tsunami.

Leaving California in early 2020, CDR Kellner participated in a cross-service tour with the 83rd Fighter Weapons Squadron at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida and ran the Naval Weapons System Evaluation Program, conducting live-fire missile shoots with numerous U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force fighter squadrons as they prepared to deploy. Following selection for command, he moved to NAS Meridian, Mississippi and reported to Training Wing One in the summer of 2023 to begin training in the T-45C Goshawk as an instructor pilot.

He was selected for squadron command in July 2024 as the Executive Officer.

CDR Kellner has accumulated over 2700 flight-hours, 18 combat missions, and 551 arrested landings on 10 different aircraft carriers. His awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Aerial Achievement Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal and various service and unit awards. Additionally, he earned a Master of Science in Human Systems Integration from the Naval Postgraduate School.