Squadron History

Established: October 29, 1999

Training Squadron THRITY-FIVE (VT-35) was established on 29 October 1999 under the leadership of U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel J. Gomez - the first time a U.S. Navy Command was established under the leadership of an Air Force Officer. The Commanding Officer would then alternate between USAF and USN commanders from 1999-2012. From its founding in October of 1999 through April of 2012, VT-35 also trained USAF student aviators who were selected to fly the C-130 "Hercules". From April of 2012 to November of 2016, VT-35 was lead only by Navy commanders and continued to train both Navy and Marine Corps student aviators. On 10 November 2016, the first Marine assumed Command of the Stingrays, beginning another cycle of alternating command, this time between the USN and USMC.

Upon the Squadron's commissioning in 1999, the Stingrays trained student aviators in the TC-12B "Huron," known commonly in civilian aviation as the Beechcraft King Air 200.

On 16 May 2017, after 18 years of outstanding service, the TC-12Bs were retired and replaced by the T-44C "Pegasus". The newly upgraded, advanced avionics of the T-44C was chosen to provide a better building block of training for the next generation of skilled Naval Aviators that will go on to fly advanced Navy and Marine Corps fleet aircraft.

Throughout its history, the Squadron has consistently been at the pinnacle of the Naval Air Training Command. VT-35 was the Calendar Year 2000, 2008, 2010, 2016, 2017, and 2018 recipient of both the Chief of Naval Air Training's (CNATRA) Award for Training Excellence and the VADM Goldthwaite Award for Training Excellence. The squadron also earned the Commander Theodore G. Ellyson Aviator Production Excellence Award for Fiscal Years 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2016, and 2017. In addition, VT-35 earned the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Aviation Safety Award in 2001, 2002, 2005, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2015, 2017 and 2019, the Admiral John H. Towers Flight Safety Award in 2005 and 2019, and the Department of the Navy (DON) Safety Excellence Award in 2006.

The Squadron currently consists of 15 Navy, 13 Marine Corps, and 11 Reserve Component Instructor Pilots. Ten, full-time Government Service civilians perform the Squadron's administrative, scheduling, and supply functions. Over 100 contract personnel under DynCorp Aircraft Aviation maintain the 54 T-44Cs shared by both VT-35 and VT-31.

The "Stingray Spirit" is evident in the Squadron's proud sponsorship of the Pilot for a Day program. The Stingrays initiated this program in September 2001, which helps youngsters who are afflicted with catastrophic illnesses and are patients at Driscoll Children's Hospital. The program provides these courageous children with an opportunity to spend the day visiting many of Naval Air Station Corpus Christi's tenant Commands and facilities, experiencing a day in the life of a Naval Aviator. For its outstanding community support, VT-35's Pilot for a Day program received the 2002 CNO Project Good Neighbor Community Service Flagship Award and the 2008 Navy Community Service Personal Excellence Partnership Award for Small Shore Command.

VT-35 is the Squadron of choice for those who are anticipating orders to the Naval Air Training Command. The Stingrays of VT-35 are committed to training the "World's Premier Naval Aviators" while making significant contributions to the Naval Air Training Command and the local community.