Leadership

A native of rural Sugar City, Colorado, Captain Carlos A. Medina attended the United States Naval Academy, graduating in 1996 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering (Astronautics), with Merit.  Upon commissioning, he completed flight training in Pensacola, Florida and earned his wings of gold as a Naval Flight Officer in November 1997, subsequently reporting to the EA-6B Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS) VAQ-129 at NAS Whidbey Island, Washington for initial training in the EA-6B Prowler.

Upon completion of the FRS in March 1999, he joined the Rooks of VAQ-137 and completed two Atlantic Ocean deployments onboard USS JOHN F. KENNEDY (CV 67) and USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT (CVN 71) in support of Operations SOUTHERN WATCH and ENDURING FREEDOM.

From April 2002 to July 2004, Captain Medina returned to the Vikings of VAQ-129 as a flight instructor and Carrier Qualification instructor.  In addition, he attended the Electronic Attack Weapons School and earned the Prowler Tactics Instructor (PTI) designation.

In 2004, Captain Medina was selected to attend the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, where he completed his Master of Science degree in Space Systems Engineering in December 2006.

In April 2007, Captain Medina reported to the VAQ-138 Yellowjackets as a Department Head, where he completed two Western Pacific Ocean deployments onboard USS JOHN C. STENNIS (CVN 74) in support of Operations IRAQI FREEDOM and ENDURING FREEDOM.

In December 2009, Captain Medina was assigned to United States Southern Command in Miami, Florida, including support to Operation UNIFIED RESPONSE, disaster relief following the Haiti earthquake.

Captain Medina reported to the VAQ-142 Gray Wolves in April 2012 and assumed duties as Commanding Officer in June 2013, safely guiding their return to carrier aviation after 21 years of land-based operations.  He led the squadron through a nine-month extended combat deployment onboard USS NIMITZ (CVN 68), including support to Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, and the Gray Wolves earned the Battle "E" and Blue “M” Awards, the Aviation Safety "S" Award, the Retention Excellence Award, the Association of Old Crows Unit Award, and the Meritorious Unit Commendation.  U.S. Pacific Fleet selected VAQ-142 above all other submarines, ships, or aircraft squadrons as winner of the prestigious 2013 Arleigh Burke Fleet Trophy.

In October 2014, Captain Medina returned to USS NIMITZ as the Ship’s Navigator, where he led the first-in-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and an untested bridge team in a successful return to sea following a 21-month maintenance period in Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Washington.

In November 2016, Captain Medina joined Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO in Lisbon, Portugal, where he served as U.S. Senior National Representative, Influence Section Head, and lead planner for Exercise TRIDENT JUNCTURE 18--NATO’s largest live exercise since the end of the Cold War.
In October 2019, Captain Medina reported to Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Japan / Commander, Navy Region Japan onboard Fleet Activities Yokosuka as Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations, Plans, and Policy, where he spearheaded the Region Japan COVID-19 Response and served as shore establishment COVAX lead.  In October 2021, he was elevated to Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff.

In October 2022, Captain Medina assumed duties as Commanding Officer and Professor of Naval Science of the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps Unit at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida, where he currently serves. 

Captain Medina’s personal military decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), Air Medal (six Strike/Flight awards), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (two awards, with Combat Distinguishing Device), Joint Service Achievement Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (three awards), and thirty-two various unit, campaign, and service awards. He has accumulated 2,855 flight hours, 95 combat missions, and 864 carrier arrested landings.

A native of Franktown, Colorado, CDR Matthew Woods enlisted in the Navy in September of 1993. After completing the Naval Aircrew and Aviation Rescue Swimmer training pipeline he served as an Aviation Warfare Systems Operator at HSL-46. He deployed to the Arabian Gulf on USS O’Bannon (DD-987) for Operation Southern Watch, the Mediterranean on USS Taylor (FFG-50) for NATO exercises and the Caribbean on USS Nicholas (FFG-47) for counter-narcotics operations. During his following tour as an AW FRS Instructor at HSL-40 he was selected for the Seaman to Admiral officer program and received his commission in April of 2005. CDR Woods earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Jacksonville University and a Master of Science degree in Business Administration with a focus on Defense Acquisitions from the Naval Postgraduate School. 

A career naval aviator, his operational assignments include service with the Proud Warriors of HSL-42 where he deployed to 5th Fleet for counter piracy operations on USS Vella Gulf (CG-72) and USS Farragut (DDG-99.) He deployed to the CENTCOM AOR with AFSOC 34th and 319th Special Operations Squadrons. Assigned as a “Super JO” to the Grandmasters of HSM-46 he deployed on the USS Jason Dunham (DDG-109) to the 6th Fleet AOR. Completing his Department Head tour with the Vipers of HSM-48 he again deployed to 6th Fleet on USS Churchill (DDG-81.) His shore assignments include instructor pilot with the Airwolves of HSM-40 and Officer in Charge of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces MH-60R Foreign Military Sales program training detachment. While serving in the N3, N5 and N8 directorates for U.S. Naval Forces Central Command / 5th Fleet he conducted shipboard helicopter flight training for the Royal Saudi Naval Forces and qualified as a Command Missile Distribution Order officer.

He is currently assigned as the Executive Officer for NROTC Embry-Riddle University in Daytona Beach, Florida. 

CDR Woods’s decorations include (Two) Meritorious Service Medals, (Thirteen) Air Medals, (One) Joint Commendation Medal, (Three) Navy & Marine Corps Commendation Medals, (Five) Navy & Marine Corps Achievement Medals and various other unit and campaign awards. He has accumulated over 5,000 flight hours, 180 combat missions, and over 900 small deck shipboard landings. 

Gunnery Sergeant Dino enlisted in the Marine Corps in February 2012, and completed recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Paris Island, South Carolina followed by Marine Combat Training at Camp Gieger. Upon graduation, he reported to the Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training School (CNATT) aboard Camp Pendleton where he was meritoriously promoted to Lance Corporal and earned the MOS 6114, AH/UH Helicopter Mechanic.

Lance Corporal Dino reported to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 467.  In 2014, Lance Corporal Dino deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Freedom and to help with the shutdown efforts where he was promoted to Corporal.  
 In 2015, he was promoted to Sergeant and deployed with the 22d MEU on the USS Wasp in support of Operation Oddessy Lightning (OOL).

Upon return in early 2017, Sergeant Dino received orders to HMLA 369.

While at HMLA-369, Sergeant Dino earned his Aircrew Wings and received an additional MOS of 6199. In 2018, Sergeant Dino deployed on the Unit Deployment Program (UDP) in Okinawa, Japan where he supported both, the 31st MEU and UDP.

Upon returning from Okinawa, Japan, Sergeant Dino was promoted to Staff Sergeant and received orders to Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego for Drill Instructor School.

In April 2019, Staff Sergeant Dino attended Drill Instructor School on Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California. Upon graduation, Staff Sergeant Dino was assigned to Mike Company, 3D Recruit Training Battalion where he served as a Drill Instructor and Senior Drill Instructor. After seven successful cycles, Staff Sergeant Dino was then moved to Receiving Company, Support Battalion, where he finished his time in San Diego as the Company Gunnery Sergeant and acting First Sergeant for Receiving Company.

In June 2022, Staff Sergeant Dino reported to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 269. While there, he was the Staff Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge of the Flightline Division and acted as the Squadron Gunnery Sergeant. In December 2022, he coordinated the Deactivation ceremony of HMLA 269 and received orders to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 167.

Staff Sergeant Dino checked into Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 167 in January of 2023. Upon reporting to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 167, he was placed in the Quality Assurance division to be the subject matter expert for the Flightline and Airframes Divisions as a Quality Assurance Representative. 

In May of 2024, Staff Sergeant Dino was Promoted to Gunnery Sergeant. In April of 2024, Gunnery Sergeant Dino deployed with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit as the lead Quality Assurance Representative for the H-1 detachment.

In January 2025, Gunnery Sergeant Dino returned to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 167.

In March 2025, Gunnery Sergeant Dino Received orders to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University NROTC where he currently serves as the Assistant Marine Officer Instructor and the Senior Enlisted Advisor.

Gunnery Sergeant Dino's personal decorations include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with one gold star in lieu of second award and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with four gold stars in lieu of fifth award.