Capt. J.J. “Yank” Cummings

Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Jonathan Pankau | Studio portrait of USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) Commanding Officer Capt. John J. Cummings  

VA, UNITED STATES

08.08.2018

Courtesy Story

USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78)           

Capt. Cummings grew up in Sharon, Massachusetts, graduated from Sharon High School in 1985 and earned a B.A. in physics from Bates College in 1990. In 1986, he enlisted in the Navy Reserves and served as a hospital corpsman attached to Alpha Company, 1st Battalion 25th Marines in Topsham, Maine until 1991.

He completed Aviation Officer Candidate School in November of 1991, earned his wings in October 1993 and completed Fleet Replacement training in the F-14A Tomcat in June 1995.

Capt. Cummings’ fleet tours flying the F-14 were with the VF-24 “Fighting Renegades” and VF-211 “Checkmates” on USS NIMITZ (CVN 68). He completed his Training Officer tour in the VF-102 “Diamondbacks” on USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT (CVN 71) and his Department Head tour with the VF-143 “Pukin’ Dogs” on USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN 73). After transitioning to the FA-18F Super Hornet in 2007, he served as Executive and Commanding Officer of VFA-11, the “Red Rippers”, aboard USS HARRY S. TRUMAN (CVN 75).

Ashore, Capt. Cummings served as SURGRAD with the VT-19 “Attack Frogs” and as an F-14 Instructor Pilot with the VF-101 “Grim Reapers” where he graduated from the Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN) as a Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor. Additionally, he served in the NATO Logistics Branch at HQ Strategic Allied Command Transformation and as Branch Head for Force Rotation in the Global Force Management Cell at US Joint Forces Command in Norfolk, Virginia. He was selected for training in the Navy’s Nuclear Propulsion Program in 2010 and completed nuclear power training in December 2012. In 2016 at Commander Naval Forces, U.S. Pacific Fleet, he served as the Assistant Chief of Staff for aircraft carrier training, F-35C Air Ship Integration and Foreign Military Training.

Capt. Cummings served as the Executive Officer of USS NIMITZ (CVN 68) from May 2013 to May 2015 and as the Commanding Officer of USS ANCHORAGE (LPD 23) from September 2015 to December 2016.

He has a Master of Science in Education from Old Dominion University and a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College where he graduated with Distinction as the President’s Honor Graduate.

Capt. Cummings has 3,850 total flight hours and 704 carrier landings. His decorations include a Legion of Merit, two Defense Meritorious Service Medals, three Meritorious Service Medals, seven Air Medals (Strike Flight), and five Navy-Marine Corps Commendation Medals (two with combat distinguishing devices).

• Date Taken: 08.08.2018
• Date Posted: 08.08.2018 11:04
• Story ID: 287781
• Location: VA, US