John D. Reardon
Commander, U.S. Navy
Executive Officer, HSC-21
Commander Reardon was born in Falmouth, Massachusetts.
In 1996 he was commissioned via the NROTC program and graduated from
Cornell University with a BA in Psychology. He entered flight training and was
designated a Naval Aviator in August 1998.
Commander Reardon then reported to Helicopter Combat Support Squadron THREE
(HC-3) in San Diego, California, for initial Fleet Replacement Pilot training in
the H-46D helicopter. Upon completion he reported to Helicopter Combat Support
Squadron EIGHT (HC-8) in Norfolk, Virginia, where he served as Squadron NATOPS
Instructor, Quality Assurance Officer and Legal Officer.
CDR Reardon deployed on board USNS CONCORD (T-AFS 5) in support of U.S.
Sixth Fleet operations, and USS DETROIT (AOE-4) in support of Operation ENDURING
FREEDOM.
In October 2002 CDR Reardon returned to HC-3 as a Fleet Replacement Squadron
(FRS) instructor pilot. He
transitioned to the MH-60S helicopter, then served as Squadron NATOPS Instructor
and Standardization Officer. During his
tour, he earned a Master's Degree in Global Leadership from the University of
San Diego School of Business.
Following his instructor tour CDR Reardon was assigned to USS DENVER (LPD-9) as
Air Officer and Safety Officer in May 2005. While onboard he qualified as Officer
of the Deck (Underway) and Command Duty Officer (In-port). Additionally,
CDR Reardon completed an Individual Augmentee (IA) assignment to United States
European Command (EUCOM) Headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany where he worked in
the J33 Crisis Action Branch.
CDR Reardon reported onboard Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron TWO SIX (HSC-26) in
June 2007 for his department head tour. While at HSC-26 he has served as Safety
Officer, Tactics Officer, and deployed as Officer in Charge for the Detachment ONE
"Desert Hawks" (Forward Deployed Naval Forces) in the Kingdom of Bahrain to provide
logistics services to the U.S. Fifth Fleet.
Additionally, CDR Reardon served as Squadron Safety Officer, Tactics Officer,
and Operations Officer while onboard HSC-26.
After a successful department head tour, CDR Reardon reported for joint duty in
January 2010 to United States Africa Command (USAFRICOM) in Stuttgart, Germany
where he worked in the J5 Directorate (Strategy, Plans and Programs). He served as
the lead counterterrorism planner and counterterrorism
synchronizer for USAFRICOM, as well as lead planner for the Gulf of Guinea
regional campaign plan.
After completing refresher training at HSC-3 in December 2012, Commander Reardon
reported to the Blackjacks of HSC-21 for duty as Executive Officer.
CDR Reardon has accumulated more than 2,600 hours in the H-46D and MH-60S
helicopters. His decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Navy
and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (with two gold stars), the Navy and Marine
Corps Achievement Medal (with two gold stars), and various unit and theater
awards and citations.
