Commander Ryan Pineda

Born in the Philippines, CDR Pineda moved to the U.S. at the age of nine and lived in Belleville, NJ. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2005, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. He commissioned through the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps Program and reported to NAS Pensacola, FL for his initial flight training in August 2005. He reported to Training Squadron 27 “Boomers” in Corpus Christi, TX for his primary training, ultimately earning his “Wings of Gold” at Helicopter Training Squadron 8 “Eightballers” in Pensacola, FL in May 2007.

After completing his initial fleet training in January 2008, CDR Pineda reported to Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron 14 “Vanguard” as a MH-53E Airborne Mine Countermeasures (AMCM) pilot. He initially deployed to MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, where he moved the unit to its permanent location in Pohang, South Korea. He completed another full deployment to South Korea a year later. In addition to multiple international exercises, CDR Pineda participated Operation UNIFIED RESPONSE during the 2010 Haiti earthquake.

In June 2011, he reported back to Pensacola to the “Factoryhand” of Helicopter Training Squadron 18 as an Instructor Pilot, where he ultimately served as the squadron’s Flight Operations Officer, earning the 2013 Association of Naval Aviation “Instructor of the Year” Award. After attending the Naval War College Maritime Staff Officer Course, he reported to the Task Force 52 (CTF-52) in Bahrain in February 2014, where he served as N33 Current Operations Officer for both U.S. and U.K. mine warfare units. At the completion of his disassociated tour, he reported to U.S. Fleet Forces Command in Norfolk, VA as an expeditionary global force management action officer, concurrently earning his Master of Science in Management. After selecting for department head, CDR Pineda reported to the “Blackhawks” of Helicopter Mine Countermeasures 15 in Norfolk, VA, where he served as the Aviation Safety DH and Operations Officer. He deployed back to Bahrain to be the Officer-In-Charge of the four-aircraft, forward deployed unit, providing AMCM capability to the Navy Central Command under Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.

In December 2018, CDR Pineda reported to Northern Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) / U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) in the Pentagon for his joint tour, where he served as the NORAD & USNORTHCOM J3 Liaison Officer to the Joint Staff and the Interagency in the National Capital Region, directly supporting homeland defense operations, multiple humanitarian/disaster relief efforts, and the DoD’s COVID-19 response.

He took command of VT-28 “Rangers” in September 2023.

CDR Pineda has accumulated over 2,300 flight hours in the T-34, T6B, TH-57, and MH-53E. His awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medals, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medals, and various unit and service medals.