Gordon "Trout" Oliver

As a career Naval Aviator, Gordon “Trout” Oliver has a unique blend of operational experience, education and leadership in key positions; with both the US Military and private business sectors. As a demonstrated leader, innovator, public speaker, and hard worker, Trout developed and taught strike warfare tactics, defined requirements, analyzed new technologies and tested cutting edge weapons which brought US Naval Carrier Aviation into the 21st Century.

Trout served as the Commanding Officer of a deployed operational Navy carrier based FA-18 squadron. In that capacity, he was singularly accountable for the leadership, motivation, operational risk management, safety, training and combat readiness of 252 personnel, employment of 10 FA-18C aircraft, and stewardship of $750M in assets and operating budget. He earned a reputation at all levels for consistently superior operational efficiency and combat effectiveness. He directed training and process efficiency efforts which improved combat readiness while simultaneously lowering maintenance man hour and flight hour costs.

While serving as the lead Operational Test Director for the US Navy’s Super Hornet program, he seamlessly meshed conflicting resource allocation and technical priorities to maintain cost, performance and schedule requirements across a broad spectrum of technologically advanced sensor, software, shipboard, aircraft, and missile systems. Additionally, he served as a Staff Landing Signals Officer aboard USS NIMITZ (CVN-68), where he was directly responsible for the safe and efficient recovery of aircraft in challenging environmental conditions. He authored numerous tactical, procedural and informational publications. As an Instructor at the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center, he helped standardize carrier based strike tactics and training; saving over 150,000 man-hours per year while simultaneously improving operations efficiency and safety.

Raised in Pennsylvania, Trout graduated from the US Naval Academy in 1986 with a BS in Ocean Engineering (offshore oil platform design). He also earned a MS in Systems Engineering/Integration from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA in 2001 and completed coursework with the Naval War College (WITH DISTINCTION) and the Air Force Air Command/Staff College. He has amassed over 5000 flight hours in the A-7, EA-6B and F/A-18 and MD-11 aircraft, survived 733 landings on twelve different aircraft carriers, and flown combat sorties in support of IRAQI and ENDURING FREEDOM.

Currently, he is a commercial airline pilot and the Area Manager, Pacific Rim Operations at Check 6, Inc.

Significant Awards/Decorations:

• Admiral Wesley McDonald Junior Officer Leadership Award
• 2 Meritorious Service Medals
• 1 Individual Air Medal, with Combat Device
• 5 Navy Commendation Medals
• 3 Navy Achievement Medals