Commander Christopher Bahner A native of Westminster, MD, Commander Bahner was commissioned to the United States Navy on Feb 14, 1997 through the Navy’s Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, FL. From 1999 to 2002, Commander Bahner served as an Electronic Countermeasures Officer in VAQ-135 Whidbey Island, WA deploying in support of Operation Northern Watch and Operation Enduring Freedom. After graduating from the United States Naval Test Pilot School in December 2003, he served as a Test Naval Flight Officer with VX-23, Patuxent River, MD from 2004 to 2006. Commander Bahner completed Prowler Tactics Instructor training at Whidbey Island, WA in 2006 and reported to VAQ-140 as the squadron Training Officer from 2006 to 2008, deploying in support of Operation Iraqi

Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. From 2008 to 2010 Commander Bahner served with VAQ-139 as the Tactics, Operations and Maintenance Officer deploying in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. From 2010 to 2012 Commander Bahner served as a Maritime Operations and Planning Officer with USNORTHCOM's Standing Joint Force Headquarters and J3 supporting National Guard Headquarters in the continental United States. As a newly transitioned EA-18G squadron, Commander Bahner led the World Famous Rooks of VAQ-137 as their Commanding Officer from February 2014 to May 2015 in support of Operation Inherent Resolve and 5th Fleet operations. Commander Bahner currently serves as the EA-18G and Naval Aviation Mission Planning Requirements Officer for OPNAV N98. Commander Bahner has over 2800 flight hours and 560 traps in various aircraft. He has been recognized as the Association of Naval Aviation Tactical Aircrew of the year 2007 and Electronic Warfare Tactics Instructor of the year 2008. His personal awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal (seven strike/flight awards), Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal (three awards/combat ‘V’), and Navy Achievement Medal (three awards). Commander Bahner has earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Troy, NY, a certificate of completion for Information Operations from the Naval Post Graduate School Monterey, CA and a Master of Science Degree in Aviation Systems from the University of Tennessee Space Institute Tullahoma, TN.