View source for Naval flight officer

{{Short description|Commissioned officer in the US Navy or Marine Corps}}
{{More citations needed|date=February 2014}}
[[File:Navalflightoff.jpeg|thumb|right|300px|The warfare designation insignia of a naval flight officer]]

A '''naval flight officer (NFO)''' is a [[Officer (armed forces)#Terminological details in the U.S.|commissioned officer]] in the [[United States Navy]] or [[United States Marine Corps]] who specializes in airborne weapons and sensor systems. NFOs are not pilots ([[United States Naval Aviator|naval aviators]]), but they may perform many "co-pilot" or "mission specialist" functions, depending on the type of aircraft. Until 1966, their duties were performed by both commissioned officer and senior enlisted naval aviation observers (NAO).<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oq_-Kd98axE |title=Naval Flight Officers - YouTube<!-- Bot generated title --> |website=[[YouTube]] |access-date=2017-12-27 |archive-date=2020-02-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200203064600/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oq_-Kd98axE |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 1966, enlisted personnel were removed from naval aviation observer duties but continued to serve in enlisted aircrew roles, while NAO officers received the newly established NFO designation, and the [[Naval Flight Officer Badge|NFO insignia]] was introduced.<ref>''The Naval Aviation Guide, 4th Edition'', Naval Institute Press, Annapolis, MD, 1985, {{ISBN|0-87021-409-8}}</ref> NFOs in the US Navy begin their careers as [[unrestricted line officer]]s (URL), eligible for command at sea and ashore in the various [[naval aviation]] aircraft type/model/series (T/M/S) communities and, at a senior level, in command of carrier air wings and aircraft carriers afloat and functional air wings, naval air stations and other activities ashore. They are also eligible for promotion to senior flag rank positions, including command of aircraft carrier strike groups, expeditionary strike groups, joint task forces, numbered fleets, naval component commands and unified combatant commands.

A small number of US Navy NFOs have later opted for a lateral transfer to the [[Restricted Line Officer|restricted line]] (RL) as aeronautical engineering duty officers (AEDO), while continuing to retain their NFO designation and active flight status. Such officers are typically graduates of the [[U.S. Naval Test Pilot School]] and/or the [[U.S. Naval Postgraduate School]] with advanced academic degrees in [[aerospace engineering]] or similar disciplines. AEDO/NFOs are eligible to command test and evaluation squadrons, naval air test centers, naval air warfare centers, and hold major program management responsibilities within the [[Naval Air Systems Command]] ([[NAVAIR]]).

Similarly, Marine Corps NFOs are also considered eligible for command at sea and ashore within Marine aviation, and are also eligible to hold senior general officer positions, such as command of Marine aircraft wings, Marine air-ground task forces (MAGTFs), joint task forces, Marine expeditionary forces, Marine Corps component commands and unified combatant commands.

The counterpart to the NFO in the [[United States Air Force]] is the [[combat systems officer]] (CSO), encompassing the previous roles of [[navigator]], [[weapon systems officer]] and [[electronic warfare officer]]. Although NFOs in the Navy's [[E-2 Hawkeye]] aircraft perform functions similar to the USAF [[air battle manager]] in the [[E-3 Sentry]] [[Airborne early warning and control|AWACS]] aircraft, their NFO training track is more closely aligned with that of USAF combat systems officers.

The [[United States Coast Guard]] had a short-lived NFO community in the 1980s and 1990s when it operated E-2C Hawkeye aircraft on loan from the Navy. Following a fatal mishap with one of these aircraft at the former [[Roosevelt Roads Naval Station|Naval Station Roosevelt Roads]], [[Puerto Rico]], the Coast Guard returned the remaining E-2Cs to the Navy and disestablished its NFO program.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.uscg.mil/history/stations/airsta_staugustine.asp |title=Historic Coast Guard Air Stations |access-date=2015-05-06 |archive-date=2014-10-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141025095743/http://www.uscg.mil/history/stations/airsta_staugustine.asp |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Training==
===Overview===
[[File:NFO Training Pipeline.png|thumb|NFO Training Pipeline]]
Training for student NFOs (SNFOs) starts out the same as for student [[United States naval aviator|naval aviator]]s (SNAs), with the same academic requirements and nearly identical physical requirements. The only real distinction in physical requirements is that SNFOs may have less than 20/40 uncorrected distance vision. Both SNAs and SNFOs go through the same naval introductory flight evaluation before splitting off into different primary training tracks.

The SNFO program has continued to evolve since the 1960s. Today, SNFOs train under the Undergraduate Military Flight Officer (UMFO) program at Training Air Wing 6 at NAS Pensacola, alongside foreign students from various [[NATO]], Allied and Coalition navies and air forces. All Student NFOs begin primary training at Training Squadron TEN ([[VT-10]]), flying the [[T-6A Texan II]] trainer, eventually moving on to advanced training at Training Squadron 4 ([[VT-4 (United States)|VT-4]]) or Training Squadron 86 ([[VT-86]]). Upon graduation from their respective advanced squadron, students receive their "wings of gold" and are designated as naval flight officers. After winging, students conduct follow-on training at their respective [[fleet replacement squadron]] (FRS).<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.cnatra.navy.mil/training.asp | title=Chief of Naval Air Training (CNATRA) | access-date=2017-12-27 | archive-date=2017-12-27 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171227235858/https://www.cnatra.navy.mil/training.asp | url-status=live }}</ref>

===NFO training squadrons===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
! Squadron Name !! Insignia !! Nickname !! Aircraft !! Notes
|-
|[[VT-4 (United States)|VT-4]]
|[[File:Vt-4 patch.jpg|40px]]
|Warbucks
|MC2<br />(Simulator)
|NFO Advanced<br />[[NAS Pensacola]]
|-
|[[Training Squadron 10|VT-10]]
|[[File:TRARON10.jpg|40px]]
|Wildcats
|[[T-6 Texan II|T-6A]]
|NFO Primary/Intermediate<br />[[NAS Pensacola]]
|-
|[[VT-86]]
|[[File:VT-86 logo.png|40px]]
|Sabrehawks
|[[T-45 Goshawk|T-45C]]
|NFO Advanced Strike<br />[[NAS Pensacola]]
|-
|}
{{clear}}

===Naval Introductory Flight Evaluation===
All SNFOs and SNAs start their aviation training with naval introductory flight evaluation (NIFE). NIFE consists of several phases: academics, ground school, flight training, and physiology. The academics portion spans three weeks and covers aerodynamics, engines, FAA rules and regulations, navigation, and weather. Academics phase is followed by one week of ground school. Every student then enrolls in one of two civilian flight schools located near [[NAS Pensacola]]. Students complete approximately 9 hours of flight training in a single engine aircraft. NIFE flights can be waived based on proficiency for students entering training with a [[private pilot license]]. After the flight phase, students will complete training in aerospace physiology, egress, and water & land survival.

===Primary===
After completing NIFE, all SNFOs report to [[VT-10]] under Training Air Wing 6 to begin primary training. All training in VT-10 is done in the [[Beechcraft T-6 Texan II|Beechcraft T-6A Texan II]] and consists of four phases (all phases consist of ground school, simulator events, and flight events):
* Familiarization phase (aircraft systems, emergency procedures, basic communication, take-off/landing, ELPs, spins, precision aerobatics, course rules)
* Instrument phase (instrument flight procedures, flight planning, voice communication)
* Operational navigation phase (visual flight procedures, tactical route construction, precision aerobatics)
* Formation phase (ground school and flights used to introduce formation flying, tactical maneuvers, parade sequence, etc.)

After graduating from Primary, SNFOs will select between multi crew aviation or strike aviation.<ref group=Note>Marine SNFOs can only select carrier aviation.</ref> Students selected for land-based platforms (e.g., [[P-3 Orion]], [[P-8 Poseidon]], [[EP-3 Aries II]], [[E-6 Mercury]]) will continue on to the advanced maritime command and control curriculum at VT-4. Those that select strike aviation will continue to Intermediate training and remain at VT-10.

===Primary 2===
Primary 2 training is also done through VT-10. It is a much shorter syllabus and consists of two phases:
* Instrument phase (simulators and flights flown at a faster airspeed and used to bolster instrument procedures)
* Formation

After graduating from Intermediate, SNFOs will select:
* E-2C/D Hawkeye
* Strike jet aircraft<ref group=Note>Marine SNFOs can only select jets.</ref>

E-2C/D Hawkeye selectees will continue on to the advanced maritime command and control curriculum at VT-4, while jet selectees will continue to intermediate training and remain at VT-10.

===Intermediate===
SNFOs destined for carrier-based strike fighter and electronic attack aircraft remain in VT-10 and continue to fly in the T-6A Texan II. Training consists of four phases:
* Single ship instrument phase (building upon instrument procedures in primary 1 and 2, VFR pattern, GPS navigation)
* Section instrument phase (instrument flying in formation)
* Tactical formation phase (rendezvous, tactical formation, tail-chase)
* Section visual navigation phase (visual navigation flying in formation)

===Advanced maritime command and control===
After primary, students who have selected E-2s or land-based maritime aviation (P-3, P-8, EP-3, E-6) check into [[VT-4]] for advanced maritime command and control (MC2) training. The MC2 program was developed to allow SNFOs to receive advanced platform-specific training while still at NAS Pensacola, and to receive their wings before progressing to their respective fleet replacement squadron (FRS) for training in their ultimate operational combat aircraft. All MC2 training is conducted in the Multi-Crew Simulator (MCS), a new simulator system that allows students to train independently, as a single-ship crew, or as a multi-ship mission. MC2 training has two phases: Core and Strand.

====Core====
SNFOs begin MC2 training in the "core" syllabus. These classes include a combination of SNFOs who are E-2C/D selectees and land-based maritime selectees. Training in this phase builds upon the instrument training from Primary and includes:
* Operational flight planning, instruments, and navigation (international flight rules and TACAN navigation)
* Communications and navigation systems (comm systems and INS, GPS, and RADAR theory and navigation)
* Sensor and link operations (RADAR, IFF, and IR theory and data link employment)
* Fleet operations

Upon completion of core training, SNFOs who progressed to MC2 training from Primary 1 (land-based maritime selectees) will select their fleet platform. Their choices are: [[E-6 Mercury|E-6B Mercury]], [[P-3 Orion|P-3C Orion]], [[P-3 Orion|EP-3E Aries II]], and [[P-8 Poseidon|P-8A Poseidon]]. When platform selection is complete, all SNFOs remain at VT-4 for "strand" training.

====Advanced MC2====
Advanced MC2 training is platform-specific training in VT-4 via the MCS, allowing SNFOs destined for the carrier-based E-2 community or the land-based P-8 or E-6 communities to begin learning their responsibilities on their fleet aircraft. The development of this program relieves the associated fleet replacement squadrons from teaching SNFOs the basics of naval aviation and to focus more on advanced fleet tactics, thus providing the fleet with mission-capable NFOs. Upon completion of advanced stage training, students receive their "wings of gold" and are designated as naval flight officers.

SNFOs progress through one or two of four strands, depending on what platform they select.

The E-2 strand consists of:
* Airborne early warning (E-2 capabilities and mission overview)
* Air intercept control (airborne battlefield command and control, tactics, and strike techniques)

The common navigation strand consists of:
* Publications and charts
* Overwater navigation and communication procedures
* Navigation logs

The MPR strand consists of:
* Surface search and littoral surveillance (community overview, target identification, sensor employment)
* Electronic warfare and acoustic operations (EW introduction, sonar theory)
* Maritime patrol and reconnaissance (coordinated operations)

The E-6 strand consists of:
* Communications and operations (community overview, operations, strategic command structure)

===Advanced strike===
SNFOs report to VT-86 and fly the T-45C Goshawk. Training consists of five phases:
* Contact phase (T-45 systems, emergency procedures, carrier operations, night operations, communications)
* Strike phase (air-to-ground radar, low level flying, mission planning, fuel awareness)
* Close air support phase (CAS procedures and communications)
* Basic fighter maneuver phase (BFM practice)
* All weather intercepts phase (air-to-air radar, air intercepts, GPS)

After graduating from advanced strike training, Navy SNFOs will select:
* EA-18G Growler
* F/A-18F Super Hornet

Marine SNFOs will select:
* F/A-18D Hornet

==Comparison with naval aviators==
Naval flight officers operate some of the advanced systems on board most multi-crew naval aircraft, and some may also act as the overall tactical mission commanders of single or multiple aircraft assets during a given mission. NFOs are not trained to pilot the aircraft, although they do train in some dual-control aircraft and are given the opportunity to practice "hands on controls" basic airmanship techniques. Some current and recently retired naval aircraft with side-by-side seating are also authorized to operate under dual-piloted weather minimums with one pilot and one NFO. However, in the unlikely event that the pilot of a single piloted naval aircraft becomes incapacitated, the crew would likely [[Ejection seat|eject]] or bail out, if possible, as NFOs are not qualified to land the aircraft, especially in the carrier-based shipboard environment.

NFOs serve as weapon systems officers (WSOs), electronic warfare officers (EWO), electronic countermeasures officers (ECMO), tactical coordinators (TACCO), bombardiers, and navigators. They can serve as aircraft mission commanders, although in accordance with the OPNAVINST 3710 series of instructions, the [[pilot in command]], regardless of rank, is always responsible for the safe piloting of the aircraft.

Many NFOs achieve flight/section lead, division lead, package lead, mission lead and mission commander qualification, even when the pilot of the aircraft does not have that designation. Often, a senior NFO is paired with a junior pilot (and vice versa). NFO [[astronaut]]s have also flown aboard the Space Shuttle and the International Space Station as mission specialists and wear NFO-astronaut wings.

Like their naval aviator counterparts, NFOs in both the Navy and Marine Corps have commanded aviation squadrons, carrier air wings, shore-based functional air wings and air groups, Marine aircraft groups, air facilities, air stations, aircraft carriers, amphibious assault ships, carrier strike groups, expeditionary strike groups, Marine aircraft wings, Marine expeditionary forces, numbered fleets, and component commands of unified combatant commands. Three NFOs have reached four-star rank, one as a Marine Corps general having served as the [[Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps]], and the other two as Navy admirals, one having served as [[Vice Chief of Naval Operations]] before commanding [[U.S. Fleet Forces Command]] & [[U.S. Atlantic Fleet]], [[U.S. Pacific Command]] (USPACOM) and [[U.S. Central Command]] (USCENTCOM), and the other having commanded [[U.S. Pacific Command]], having previously commanded [[U.S. Pacific Fleet]]. Another former NFO who retrained and qualified as a Naval Aviator also achieved four-star rank as a Marine Corps general, commanded [[U.S. Strategic Command]] (USSTRATCOM) and later served as [[Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff]] (VCJCS).

In some quarters, NFO careers may be viewed more restrictive than their Naval Aviator (e.g., pilot) counterparts. For example, NFOs only serve aboard multi-crew naval aircraft and as certain multi-crew aircraft are retired from the active inventory, NFOs can become displaced, as happened with the withdrawal of the A-3 and EA-3, A-5 and RA-5, A-6, EA-6A, EA-6B, F-4 and RF-4, F-14 and S-3 and ES-3 from active service. In addition, as avionics have become more advanced, the need for some multi-crew aircraft using one or more NFOs has been reduced.

However, the majority of NFOs (as well as Naval Aviators) from aircraft being retired have historically been afforded the opportunity to transition to another aircraft platform, such as F-4 and F-14 transitions to the F/A-18D and F/A-18F, A-6 transitions to the F-14, EA-6B, S-3 and F/A-18C, S-3 transitions to the P-3/P-8, E-2 and F/A-18F, EA-6B transitions to the EA-18G, and P-3 transitions to the P-8. Although it is true that Naval Aviators can also transition their piloting expertise into civilian careers as commercial airline pilots and that NFOs are not able to similarly translate their skills into this career field unless augmented by associated FAA pilot certificates, the military aviation career opportunities of NFOs remain on par with their Naval Aviator counterparts, as do their post-military career prospects in the civilian sector in defense, aviation & aerospace, as well as other career pursuits beyond that of commercial airline pilot.

==Notable NFOs==
Vice Admiral [[Walter E. Carter Jr.|Walter E. "Ted" Carter Jr.]] became the 62nd superintendent of the [[U.S. Naval Academy]] on July 23, 2014. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1981, was designated a Naval Flight Officer in 1982, and graduated from the U.S. Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN) in 1985. Carter's career as an aviator includes extensive time at sea, deploying around the globe in the F-4 Phantom II and the F-14 Tomcat. He has landed on 19 different aircraft carriers, to include all 10 of the Nimitz class carriers. Carter flew 125 combat missions in support of joint operations in Bosnia, Kosovo, Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan.  He accumulated 6,150 flight hours in F-4, F-14, and F/A-18 aircraft during his career and safely completed 2,016 carrier-arrested landings, the record among all active and retired U.S. Naval Aviation designators.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.navy.mil/navydata/bios/navybio.asp?bioID=535|work=Navy.mil Leadership Biographies|publisher=[[United States Navy]]|access-date=9 April 2016|title=Archived copy|archive-date=6 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190606124620/https://www.navy.mil/navydata/bios/navybio.asp?bioID=535|url-status=live}} {{PD-notice}}</ref>

As a [[Captain (naval)|captain]], [[Rear Admiral]] [[Richard Dunleavy]] was the first NFO to command an aircraft carrier, the {{USS|Coral Sea|CV-43|6}} (CV 43). He previously flew the [[A-3 Skywarrior]], [[A-5 Vigilante]], [[RA-5C Vigilante]] and [[A-6 Intruder]]. Later in his career, he was promoted to [[Rear admiral (United States)|rear admiral]] and [[vice admiral]], and was the first NFO to hold the since disestablished position of Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Air Warfare (OP-05). He retired in 1993 as a Rear Admiral.

Rear Admiral Stanley W. Bryant was the first NFO selected for the Navy's Nuclear Power Program as a Commander in 1986. As a Captain, he became the first NFO to command a nuclear aircraft carrier when he took command of {{USS|Theodore Roosevelt|CVN-71|6}} (CVN 71) in July 1992. In his first posting following promotion to Flag rank, he became the first NFO and first carrier aviator to command the Iceland Defense Force in Keflavik, Iceland in 1994. He was the first NFO appointed to the position of Deputy Commander (then DCINC), U.S. Naval Forces Europe and retired from that position in 2001.

[[Commander]] [[William P. Driscoll]] was the first NFO to become a [[flying ace]], having achieved five aerial kills of [[VPAF]] fighter aircraft during the [[Vietnam War]]. Driscoll received the service's second-highest decoration, the [[Navy Cross]], for his role in a 1972 [[dogfight]] with [[North Vietnam]]ese [[Mikoyan|MiGs]]. Driscoll separated from active duty in 1982 but remained in the [[United States Naval Reserve]], flying the [[F-4 Phantom II]] and later the [[F-14 Tomcat]] in a Naval Air Reserve fighter squadron at NAS Miramar, eventually retiring in 2003 with the rank of [[Commander]] (O-5).<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.goefoundation.org/eagles/biographies/d/358/Driscoll-William-P |title=GoE Foundation :: Eagles |access-date=2018-01-03 |archive-date=2018-12-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181218011033/http://www.goefoundation.org/eagles/biographies/d/358/Driscoll-William-P |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://library.sdsu.edu/sites/default/files/DriscollTranscriptPt1.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2018-01-03 |archive-date=2018-12-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181201005132/https://library.sdsu.edu/sites/default/files/DriscollTranscriptPt1.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[Admiral William Fallon]], an NFO who flew in the [[RA-5C Vigilante]] and the [[A-6 Intruder]], was the first NFO to achieve four-star rank. As a three-star [[vice admiral]], he was the first NFO to command a numbered fleet, the [[U.S. 2nd Fleet]]. He later served in four separate four-star assignments, to include command of two [[unified combatant command]]s. This included service as the 31st [[Vice Chief of Naval Operations]] from October 2000 to August 2003; the Commander, [[U.S. Fleet Forces Command]] and [[U.S. Atlantic Fleet]] from October 2003 to February 2005; Commander, [[U.S. Pacific Command]] (USPACOM) from February 2005 until March 2007; and Commander, [[U.S. Central Command]] (USCENTCOM) from March 2007 until his retirement in March 2008.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.navy.mil/navydata/bios/navybio_ret.asp?bioID=109 |title=Navy.mil Leadership Biographies |access-date=2018-01-03 |archive-date=2018-01-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180104013934/http://www.navy.mil/navydata/bios/navybio_ret.asp?bioID=109 |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[Captain (United States O-6)|Captain]] [[Dale Gardner]] was the first NFO to qualify and fly as a [[NASA]] [[Mission Specialist]] [[astronaut]] aboard the [[Space Shuttle Challenger|Space Shuttle ''Challenger'']] on mission [[STS-8]]. He previously flew the [[F-14 Tomcat]]. He retired in 1990.

[[Rear admiral (United States)|Rear Admiral]] [[Benjamin Thurman Hacker]] was the first NFO flag officer, having been selected in 1980. He previously flew the [[P-2 Neptune]] and [[P-3 Orion]]. He retired in 1988.

[[Admiral]] [[Harry Harris (admiral)|Harry B. Harris Jr.]], was the last Commander, [[U.S. Pacific Command]] (USPACOM) prior to its re-designation as [[U.S. Indo-Pacific Command]] (USINDOPACOM). He was the first NFO from the land-based maritime patrol aviation community to command a numbered fleet, the [[U.S. 6th Fleet]], and later commanded the [[U.S. Pacific Fleet]]. He is also the first member of the Navy's land-based maritime patrol aviation community, pilot or NFO, to promote to four-star rank. He previously flew the [[P-3 Orion|P-3C Orion]] and retired in 2018.

[[Vice Admiral]] [[David C. Nichols]] was the deputy coalition air forces component commander (deputy CFACC) during [[Operation Enduring Freedom]] and [[Iraq War|Operation Iraqi Freedom]]. He was the first NFO to command the [[Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center]], the second NFO to command a numbered fleet, the [[U.S. 5th Fleet]], and was later deputy commander of [[U.S. Central Command]]. He previously flew the [[A-6 Intruder]] and retired in 2007.

[[General officer|General]] [[William L. Nyland]], [[United States Marine Corps|USMC]] was the first Marine Corps NFO to achieve four-star rank as [[Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps]]. As a lieutenant general, he was also the first NFO to serve as deputy commandant for aviation. He previously flew the [[F-4 Phantom II]] and the [[F/A-18 Hornet]]. He retired in 2005.

[[General officer|Lieutenant General]] Terry G. Robling, [[United States Marine Corps|USMC]] was the first Marine Corps NFO to command [[United States Marine Corps Forces, Pacific]] following an assignment as the deputy commandant for aviation. He previously flew the [[F-4 Phantom II]] and the [[F/A-18 Hornet]]. He retired in 2014.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://slsp.manpower.usmc.mil/gosa/biographies/rptBiography.asp?PERSON_ID=75&PERSON_TYPE=General |title=Archived copy |access-date=2015-09-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903034935/https://slsp.manpower.usmc.mil/gosa/biographies/rptBiography.asp?PERSON_ID=75&PERSON_TYPE=General |archive-date=2014-09-03 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

[[Vice admiral (United States)|Vice Admiral]] [[Nora W. Tyson]] was the Commander, [[United States Third Fleet]] from 2015 to 2017, and previously Deputy Commander, [[U.S. Fleet Forces Command]]. She was the first female NFO to command a warship, the amphibious assault ship {{USS|Bataan|LHD-5|6}} (LHD 5), and the first female naval officer to command an aircraft carrier strike group, [[Carrier Strike Group Two]], aboard the {{USS|George H.W. Bush|CVN-77|6}} (CVN 77). She previously flew the land-based [[Lockheed EC-130|EC-130Q Hercules]] and the [[E-6 Mercury]] [[TACAMO]] aircraft. She was the first woman to command a U.S. Navy fleet, the [[U.S. 3rd Fleet]]. She retired in 2017.

Colonel John C. Church Sr., USMC was the first NFO to command a Marine F-4 squadron. He commanded [[VMFA-115]], the Silver Eagles, from 1983 to 1984. As a Captain, Colonel Church, "the Silver Fox", had previously served with VMFA-115 during the Vietnam War, during which time he and his pilot, Captain James "Rebel" Denton, were shot down and subsequently rescued. Colonel Church amassed more than 500 missions in the F-4.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://115marinereunion.com/115_Commanding_Officers.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2020-04-10 |archive-date=2020-12-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201203225911/https://115marinereunion.com/115_Commanding_Officers.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> He retired in 1990.

==Fleet==
Eligible fleet platforms for NFOs are as of August 2022 are as follows:
* [[Northrop Grumman E-2 Hawkeye|E-2C/D Hawkeye]]
* [[Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet|F/A-18F Super Hornet]]
* [[Boeing EA-18G Growler|EA-18G Growler]]
* [[Lockheed EP-3|EP-3E Aries II]]
* [[Boeing P-8 Poseidon|P-8A Poseidon]]
* [[Boeing E-6 Mercury|E-6B Mercury]]
* [[Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton|MQ-4C Triton]] (unmanned aircraft, remotely piloted)

In the EA-18G Growler, NFOs are designated as electronic warfare officers (EWOs) and may also be mission commanders.

In the E-2C Hawkeye and E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, NFOs are initially as designated radar officers (RO), then upgrade to air control officers (ACO) and finally to combat information center officers (CICO) and CICO/mission commanders (CICO/MC).

In the E-6B Mercury, NFOs are initially designated as airborne communications officers (ACOs), then upgrade to combat systems officers (CSOs), and finally to mission commanders (CSO/MC).

In the EP-3E Aries, NFOs are initially designated as navigators (NAV) and eventually upgrade to electronic warfare officer/signals evaluator (EWO SEVAL) and EWO/SEVAL/mission commander (SEVAL/MC).

In the F/A-18D Hornet, the NFO position is known as the weapon systems officer (WSO) and may also be mission commander qualified.  Flown only within the U.S. Marine Corps, the last Marine Corps officers to be assigned to the F/A-18D as WSOs received their NFO wings in 2022.  The F/A-18D will be eventually replaced in Marine Corps service with the single-seat, [[STOVL]], [[F-35B Lightning II]]. 

In the F/A-18F Super Hornet, the NFO position is known as the weapon systems officer (WSO) and may also be mission commander qualified.

In the P-8A Poseidon, the NFO is initially designated as a co-tactical coordinator (COTAC) and upgrades to tactical coordinator ([[TACCO]]) and then TACCO/mission commander (TACCO/MC).

A single USN or USMC NFO is assigned to the [[Blue Angels|United States Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron]], the [[Blue Angels]], as "Blue Angel #8", the Events Coordinator. This is an operational flying billet for this officer and he or she previously flew the twin-seat F/A-18D "Blue Angel 7" aircraft (which had replaced the F/A-18B previously used), and now flies the twin-seat F/A-18F "Blue Angel 7" aircraft  with the team's advance pilot/narrator. They function as the advance liaison (ADVON) at all air show sites and the events coordinator provides backup support to the narrator during all aerial demonstrations.

NFOs have also served as instructors in the twin-seat [[Northrop F-5|F-5F Tiger II]] at the Navy Fighter Weapons School (now part of the [[Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center]] (NAWDC)) and as instructors in twin-seat [[F/A-18 Hornet|F/A-18B]]s and [[F/A-18E/F Super Hornet|F/A-18F]]s in USN and USMC F/A-18 fleet replacement squadrons and the Navy Fighter Weapons School (NFWS, also known as TOPGUN). They have also flown a number of USAF and NATO/Allied aircraft via the U.S. Navy's Personnel Exchange Program (PEP), to include, but not limited to, the USAF [[F-4 Phantom II]], [[F-15E Strike Eagle]] and [[E-3 Sentry]], the [[Royal Air Force]] [[Blackburn Buccaneer|Buccaneer S.2]], [[Panavia Tornado|Tornado GR1/GR1B/GR4/GR4A]] and [[Hawker Siddeley Nimrod|Nimrod MR.2]], and the [[Royal Canadian Air Force]] [[CP-140 Aurora]].

In all, the specific roles filled by an NFO can vary greatly depending on the type of aircraft and squadron to which an NFO is assigned.

==Past aircraft==
NFOs also flew in these retired aircraft, including as mission commander:
* [[A-1 Skyraider|EA-1F (formerly AD-5Q) Skyraider]] serving as electronic warfare officer/electronic countermeasures operator.
* [[A-3 Skywarrior|A-3 (formerly A3D-1, A3D-2, A3D-2P, A3D-2Q and A3D-2T) Skywarrior]] (e.g., A-3B, EA-3B, ERA-3B, EKA-3B, TA-3B and VA-3B) serving as bombardier/navigator, navigator, electronic countermeasures/electronic warfare officer, and EWO signals evaluator.
* [[A-4 Skyhawk]] as students in the TA-4J, as TOPGUN adversary instructors in the TA-4F and TA-4J, as forward air controllers in the OA-4M (USMC only), and as electronic warfare officers in the EA-4F.
* [[A-5 Vigilante|A-5A (formerly A3J-1), A-5B (formerly A3J-2) and RA-5C (formerly A3J-3P) Vigilante]] serving as bombardier/navigator in the A-5A and A-5B and reconnaissance/attack navigator in the RA-5C.
* [[A-6 Intruder]] (e.g., A-6A, A-6B, A-6C, KA-6D, A-6E) serving as bombardier/navigator (USN + USMC).
* [[EA-6|EA-6A Prowler]] serving as electronic countermeasures officer (USN + USMC).
* [[EA-6|EA-6B Prowler]] serving as electronic countermeasures officer (USN + USMC).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/the-navy-has-retired-the-ea-6b-prowler-after-45-years-o-1715596340|title=The Navy Has Retired the EA-6B Prowler After 45 Years of Service|date=3 July 2015 |access-date=2017-12-27|archive-date=2017-12-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171228053857/https://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/the-navy-has-retired-the-ea-6b-prowler-after-45-years-o-1715596340|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[A-7 Corsair II|EA-7L Corsair II]] as electronic countermeasures officer.
* [[C-130 Hercules|C-130F Hercules]] serving as navigator.
* [[EC-130|EC-130Q Hercules]] "TACAMO" aircraft serving as navigator and airborne communications officer.
* [[C-130 Hercules|LC-130 Hercules]] serving as navigator.
* [[Grumman E-1 Tracer|E-1B (formerly WF-2) Tracer]] serving as radar intercept controllers.
* [[EC-121 Warning Star|EC-121 (formerly WV-2 and WV-3) Warning Star]] as navigator and electronic warfare officer.
* [[Douglas F3D Skynight|EF-10 (formerly F3D-2Q) Skynight]] as electronic warfare officer (USMC only).
* [[F-4 Phantom II|F-4 (formerly F4H-1)]] Phantom II (e.g., F-4B, F-4J, F-4N, F-4S, EF-4B, EF-4J) serving as radar intercept officer (USN + USMC)
* [[F-4 Phantom II|EF-4B and EF-4J Phantom II]] serving as electronic warfare officer.<ref>http://www.seaforces.org/usnair/VAQ/Electronic-Attack-Squadron-33 {{Dead link|date=February 2022}}</ref>
* [[F-4 Phantom II|RF-4B (formerly F4H-1P) Phantom II]] serving as reconnaissance systems officer (USMC only).
* [[F-14 Tomcat]] (e.g., F-14A, F-14B, F-14D) serving as radar intercept officer
* [[OV-10 Bronco]] (OV-10A, OV-10D, OV-10D+, OV-10G) serving as aerial observer and forward air controller (USMC only).
* [[P-2 Neptune|SP-2E/H (formerly P2V-5 and P2V-7) Neptune]] (e.g., SP-2E, SP-2H, EP-2E, OP-2E, AP-2H, LP-2H) serving as tactical coordinator and navigator.
* [[P5M Marlin|SP-5B (formerly P5M) Marlin]] serving as tactical coordinator and navigator.
* [[P-3 Orion|RP-3A]] and [[P-3 Orion|RP-3D Orion]] serving as ocean project coordinator and navigator.
* [[S-3 Viking]] (S-3A and S-3B) serving as tactical coordinator (TACCO) and co-pilot/tactical coordinator (COTAC).
* [[ES-3A Shadow]] serving as electronic warfare officer and co-pilot/electronic warfare officer.
* [[P-3 Orion|WP-3A Orion]] serving as navigator.
* [[P-3 Orion|RP-3A and RP-3D Orion]] serving as navigator and ocean projects coordinator.
* [[P-3 Orion|EP-3J Orion]] serving as navigator and electronic warfare officer.
* [[P-3 Orion|P-3A, P-3B and P-3B TACNAVMOD Orion, and P-3C Orion]] serving as navigator/communicator and tactical coordinator.

NFOs have also served as instructors/mission commanders in since retired training aircraft such as the [[C-45 Expeditor|UC-45 Expeditor]], [[C-131 Samaritan|T-29 Flying Classroom]], several variants of the [[T-39 Sabreliner]], the [[Grumman Gulfstream I|TC-4C Academe]], [[Cessna Citation II|T-47A Citation II]] and the [[USAF]] [[T-43 Bobcat|T-43A Bobcat]].

==Popular culture==
* One of the key characters in the popular film ''[[Top Gun]]'' is LTJG Nick "Goose" Bradshaw, played by [[Anthony Edwards (actor)|Anthony Edwards]], an [[F-14 Tomcat|F-14]] radar intercept officer (RIO) teamed with his pilot, LT Pete "Maverick" Mitchell, played by [[Tom Cruise]]. Several others were LTJG Ron "Slider" Kerner, RIO to LT Tom "Iceman" Kazansky; LT Sam "Merlin" Neills, LT Bill "Cougar" Cortell's RIO; and LTJG Leonard "Wolfman" Wolfe, LT Rick "Hollywood" Neven's RIO. LTJG Marcus "Sundown" Williams (played by [[Clarence Gilyard Jr.]]) is the RIO of LTJG Charles "Chipper" Piper (played by [[Adrian Pasdar]]) and served as Maverick's RIO right after the latter went back to operational flight status following the accident that led to Goose's death.
* In the film ''[[Flight of the Intruder]]'', [[Willem Dafoe]] played LCDR Virgil "Tiger" Cole, who served as an A-6 B/N (bombardier/navigator) with his pilot, LT Jake "Cool Hand" Grafton, played by [[Brad Johnson (actor, born 1959)|Brad Johnson]].
* In the film ''[[Behind Enemy Lines (2001 film)|Behind Enemy Lines]]'', [[Owen Wilson]] played LT Chris Burnett, a weapon systems officer in an [[F/A-18F Super Hornet]].
* In the film ''[[Top Gun: Maverick]]'', several actors portray [[F/A-18F]] weapon systems officers, to include [[Lewis Pullman]] as LT Robert "Bob" Floyd, [[Danny Ramirez]] as LT Mickey "Fanboy" Garcia, [[Jake Picking]] at LT Brigham "Harvard" Lennox, and Kara Wang as LT Callie "Halo" Bassett.  During the film, numerous flashbacks and references are also made to the deceased F-14 radar intercept officer, LTJG Nick "Goose" Bradshaw, as played by [[Anthony Edwards (actor)|Anthony Edwards]] in the 1986 ''[[Top Gun]]'' film as the RIO and close friend of then-LT, now CAPT Pete "Maverick" Mitchell as played by [[Tom Cruise]], and as the late father of [[F/A-18E]] pilot LT Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw as played by [[Miles Teller]].

==See also==
* [[Naval aviator insignia]]
* [[United States Marine Corps aviation]]
* [[List of United States Navy aircraft squadrons]]
* [[List of United States Marine Corps aircraft squadrons]]
* [[NATOPS]]
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==Notes==
{{reflist|group=Note}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:United States Naval Flight Officers| ]]
[[Category:United States naval aviation]]
[[Category:Combat occupations]]
[[Category:United States Navy job titles]]