John Saccomando

Lieutenant, U.S. Navy

Lieutenant John Saccomando was born in Buffalo, New York, and spent the first part of his childhood there. He then moved to Burke, Virginia where he played baseball and golf. He graduated from James W. Robinson Secondary in 1990. He attended the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Georgia, and graduated with honor earning a Bachelor of Science degree in applied mathematics with minors in history and American literature. He earned his commission upon graduation via the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps in September 1994.

John first reported to Georgia Tech Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps Unit as a Naval Science instructor. In May 1995, John reported to flight school at Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola, Florida. Shortly thereafter, he attended primary flight training at NAS Corpus Christi, Texas, and then he transferred to NAS Meridian, Mississippi, for intermediate and advanced flight training. While there, he flew the T-2C Buckeye and TA-4J Skyhawk and was awarded the Chief of Naval Aviation Training's Top Gun award for outstanding air combat performance and the Commodore's Battle "E" award for precision bombing. He earned his wings of gold in May 1997. John then reported to Fighter Squadron 101 (VF 101) "Grim Reapers" at NAS Oceana, Virginia, for training in the F-14D Tomcat.

After completing his initial qualification, John reported to the VF 213 "Blacklions" where he served as the NATOPS officer, line/troubleshooter division officer, air-to-ground weapons training officer, forward air controller (airborne) training officer and head landing signal officer. While attached to VF 213, John completed two extended deployments aboard the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), flying more than 50 combat missions in support of Operations Desert Fox, Southern Watch, and Enduring Freedom.

In January 2002, John reported to the Fighter Squadron 101 "Grim Reapers" as an F-14 Tomcat flight instructor. While at VF 101, John served as aircraft division officer, weapons and combat systems phase leader, and landing signals officer. Along with teaching replacement radar intercept officers the fundamentals of the F-14A/B/D Tomcat, John also taught replacement pilots air combat maneuvering and how to land Tomcats on aircraft carriers during both day and night operations. In January 2003, John was selected to the F-14 Tomcat Demonstration Team. While on the team, John flew more than 40 flight demonstrations in the F-14D Tomcat, performing in front of more than five million spectators.