command patchReserve Component // Training Air Wing Two

Squadron Augment Unit | VT-22

Commanding Officer

CDR Darby Gray

Cmdr. Darby "TP" Gray is a native of Houston, Texas, and was the first graduate of the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) unit at the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida. He commissioned in 2004 with a Bachelor of Arts in political science and reported to the "Red Knights" of Training Squadron (VT) 3 at Naval Air Station (NAS) Whiting Field, Florida, for primary training in the T-34C Turbomentor. He earned his wings in 2007 following jet training in the T-45C Goshawk with VT-7 at NAS Meridian, Mississippi, and was selected to fly the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet with Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 122 at NAS Lemoore, California.

In January 2008, Gray joined the "Fighting Redcocks" of VFA-22 and completed three combat deployments in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom aboard USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) and USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70).

Gray returned to Lemoore in April 2011 and joined the "Flying Eagles" of VFA-122 as an instructor pilot, serving as schedules, Naval Air Training and Operating Procedures Standardization (NATOPS), and future plans officer. He earned an Executive Master of Business Administration degree from the Navy Post Graduate School prior to departing in February 2014 for a one year disassociated tour in Manama, Bahrain. Gray served in the Theater Security Cooperation office, managing mil-to-mil interactions with Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, and Kuwait.

Returning to Lemoore in February 2015, Gray requalified in the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and joined the "Black Aces" of VFA-41 as a department head. He deployed to the South China Sea in 2016 and participated in Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC) aboard USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74), earning Top Hook honors twice and completing Joint Professional Military Education I via the Naval War College while serving as the safety, administration, and operations officer.

Prior to leaving active duty, Gray served as the safety, strike operations, and assistant operations officer of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9. He departed NAS Lemoore and joined the Naval Reserve in May 2018. In December 2018, he became an instructor pilot with the VT-21 Squadron Augment Unit (SAU) in Kingsville, Texas, and served as the safety and operations officer.

Gray currently serves as the commanding officer of the VT-22 Squadron Augment Unit in Kingsville.

Gray has accumulated over 2,600 flight hours and 530 arrested landings in naval aircraft. His decorations include the Air Medal with Strike/Flight numeral 2, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and various unit and campaign awards.

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