VT-35 Leadership

Commanding Officer

A native of Arlington, Virginia, Cmdr. Joe "Woody" Reardon graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science in history in May 2005. Following commissioning, he conducted flight training with the "Boomers" of Training Squadron (VT) 27, the "Wise Owls" of VT-31, and the "Golden Eagles" of VT-22 before earning his Wings of Gold in June 2007. He completed his fleet replacement squadron syllabus with Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 120 in 2008 before joining the fleet with the "Providers" Fleet Logistics Squadron (VRC) 30 at Naval Air Station (NAS) North Island, San Diego.

Reardon flew the C-2A Greyhound and served as the squadron's head landing signals officer (LSO) and aircraft division officer. He deployed with Detachment Three onboard USS Nimitz (CVN 68) as the avionics division officer from July 2009 to March 2010, taking part in Operation Enduring Freedom. Additionally, he deployed with Detachment Four onboard USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) as the operations officer from July 2011 to January 2012, taking part in Operation New Dawn.

After his first sea tour, Reardon joined VT-22 at NAS Kingsville, Texas, as an instructor pilot and LSO in the T-45C from February 2012 to February 2014. He instructed student naval aviators and participated in eight separate carrier qualification detachments assisting in the qualification of over 60 new Naval Aviators.

He rejoined the fleet as the assistant officer-in-charge of VRC-30 Detachment Five, the Navy's only permanently forward deployed C-2A Detachment, from May 2014 to May 2016. While stationed at NAS Atsugi, Japan, he completed two Western Pacific deployments with Carrier Air Wing Five onboard USS George Washington (CVN 73) and USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), taking part in Exercises Talisman Sabre, Valiant Shield, and Keen Sword.

Woody joined the "Rawhides" of VRC-40 as a department head at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, from May 2016 through November 2018. He deployed once as the OIC of Detachment One onboard USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), taking part in Operation Inherent Resolve. He also served as the squadron operations officer, maintenance officer, and safety officer.

Following VRC-40, he served in the Operations Directorate (J3) at U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) in Stuttgart, Germany, from December 2018 through March 2021. He joined the Joint Operations Center (J31) as an operations officer before joining the Future Operations Division (J35). As a future operations planner, he coordinated with Joint Staff, U.S. Country Teams, Foreign Liaison Officers, and AFRICOM Component Commands on operations across 19 West African countries.

Reardon has accumulated over 2,600 flight hours, and his personal decorations include one Defense Meritorious Service Medal, two Navy Commendations Medals, and two Navy Achievement Medals.

Reardon currently serves as the commanding officer for the "Stingrays" of VT-35 in Corpus Christi, Texas.