RODERICK KURTZ
Roderick Kurtz is from Fountain Valley, California. He graduated from the University of California Los Angeles in 1995 with a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering. Upon graduation, he attended U.S. Navy Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, Florida receiving his commission in February 1996.
Flight training began at Whiting Field in Florida and continued through Meridian, Mississippi, and eventually Kingsville, Texas culminating in carrier qualifications in the T-45A aboard USS John F. Kennedy in December of 1998. LCDR Kurtz received his Wings of Gold in February of 1999 and reported to VFA-125 in Lemoore, California for initial training in the FA-18C.
Roderick served the Navy as an FA-18 pilot in Strike Fighter Squadron 113 (VFA-113), Strike Fighter Squadron 154 (VFA-154), and Strike Fighter Squadron 122 (VFA-122). Additionally, he served on the staff of Carrier Air Wing Two, Strike Fighter Wing Pacific, and the NATO High Readiness Force in Spain. In conjunction with his flight duties, he was also the squadron Safety Officer, Maintenance Officer, Quality Assurance Officer, and wing Strike Operations Officer.
His flight accomplishments include three deployments onboard USS Abraham Lincoln and one onboard USS John C. Stennis. He conducted combat flights in support of Operations SOUTHERN WATCH, ENDURING FREEDOM, and IRAQI FREEDOM.
Before retiring from the Navy, he amassed more than 2700 flight hours, 643 arrested landings, and 169 hours of combat.
His decorations include three Air Medals, four Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, six Top Ten Hook awards and numerous other personal and unit citations.
Today, Roderick is employed by ATAC as an adversary pilot in the Hawker Hunter contracted to train US Navy squadron pilots and ships in preparation for upcoming deployments.
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