CO: COMMANDER KUMAR ATARTHI

COMMANDER
Carrier Airborne Command and Control One One Three
VAW-113

Commander Atarthi hails from Williamsport, Pennsylvania. He enlisted in the Navy on October 1st, 1987 as an Aviation Anti-submarine Warfare Technician and served with VS-32 Maulers on board USS AMERICA (CV 66). In August 1990, he completed the Broadened Opportunity for Officer Selection and Training (BOOST) Program at NTC San Diego, California and reported to Naval ROTC at The University of Memphis. On May 13th, 1994, he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Manufacturing Engineering Technology and was commissioned an Ensign. In December 1994, he transferred to NAS Pensacola, Florida to begin his flying career as a Naval Flight Officer (NFO). He then reported to VAW-120 Greyhawks at NAS Norfolk, Virginia for Advanced flight training in the venerable E-2C Hawkeye, earning his "Wings of Gold" on October 23rd, 1996.

For his initial sea tour, Commander Atarthi reported to VAW-123 Screwtops in August 1997 where he held the jobs of Avionics Branch Officer, Personnel Officer, NFO Training Officer, and NFO NATOPS Officer. In September 1998, he graduated from the U.S. Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN) at NAS Fallon, Nevada as an Air Intercept Controller (AIC). Deploying on USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN 73) and USS JOHN F. KENNEDY (CV 67), he flew combat missions in support of Operation SOUTHERN WATCH and was the 1999 Carrier Airwing ONE (CVW-1) NFO of the Year.

In July 2000, Commander Atarthi returned to the "Greyhawks" as a NFO Instructor, serving as NFO Training Officer and Tactical Air Intercept Control (TACAIC) Phase Head, and was selected as the 2002 Carrier Airborne Early Warning Wing Atlantic (CAEWWL) Hawkeye NFO of the Year (Shore). He then joined the CVW-1 Staff in July 2002 as Assistant Operations Officer and Time Sensitive Strike (TSS) Subject Matter Expert where he deployed on USS ENTERPRISE (CVN 65) and flew combat missions in support of Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM.

In July 2004, Commander Atarthi attended the U.S. Air Force’s Air Command and Staff College (ACSC) at Maxwell AFB, Alabama where he graduated with a Masters in Military Operational Art and Science, specializing in Space Operations. In June 2005, he reported back to the "Screwtops" for his Department Head tour on board USS ENTERPRISE (CVN 65) where he held the jobs of Training Officer and Operations Officer and flew more combat missions over Iraq and Afghanistan.

Transferring to USAG Miami, Florida in December 2007, Commander Atarthi reported to Headquarters, U.S. Southern Command for his joint tour where he served as Chief, Maritime Plans (J35) and as Special Assistant to the Commander within the Commander's Action Group (J00Z). Commander Atarthi joined the "Black Eagles" of VAW-113 as its Executive Officer in December 2010 and flew humanitarian assistance/disaster response (HA/DR) missions over Japan in support of Operation TOMODACHI and more combat missions in support of Operations NEW DAWN and ENDURING FREEDOM. He assumed command of the “Black Eagles” in March 2012.

Commander Atarthi's personal awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Strike/Flight Air Medal (4 awards), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (3 awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (4 awards), along with numerous unit, campaign, and service awards. He has over 2,000 hours in the E-2C Hawkeye, over 500 arrested carrier landings, and is fluent in Spanish.