Page 257 · Carrier Air Wing Two (CVW-2)

Captain David C. Nichols, Jr. COMMANDER, CARRIER AIR WING TWO Captain David C. Nichols, Jr. is a native of Chattanooga, Tennessee. He attended the University of the South and graduated from University of Tennessee. In march 1973 he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Infantry through the Rt program. He is a graduate of the Army Ranger School at Fort Benning, GA. Captain Nichols laterally transferred to the U.S. Navy was designated a Naval Flight Officer in May 1974. In June 1975, following A-6A training in VA-128 at NAS Whidbey Island, WA, Captain Nichols reported to Attack Squadron 145 deployed to the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean aboard USS RANGER. His next assignment was to Air Test and Evaluation Sq 5 at the Naval Weapons Center, China Lake, CA. At VX-5 he was Test Director for operational evaluation of the A-6E/Harpoon missi weapon system. Captain Nichols reported to Attack Squadron 165 at NAS Whidbey Island in July 1981. With VA-165 he deployed to the Western Paci and Indian Ocean aboard USS CONSTELLATION and USS RANGER. In July 1984 Captain Nichols was ordered to the Naval Stril Warfare Center, Fallon, NV. A plank owner at Strike, he was the Tactics Department Head. In July 1986 Captain Nichols was assigned to the staff of the Secretary of the Navy in Washington, D.C. as the Executive Assistant to Deputy Assistant Secretary - Tactical Programs. In August 1987 he reported to the staff of the Commander Medium Attack Tacti Electronic Warfare Wing U.S. Pacific Fleet at NAS Whidbey Island for duty as Attack Readiness Officer. Captain Nichols reported to VA-196 as Executive Officer in august 1988 and assumed command of the squadron in February 1990. commanded VA-196 aboard USS INDEPENDENCE during Operation Desert Shield. In August 1991, he was assigned to the Naval War College, Newport, RI as a student in the College of Naval Warfare. He graduated wit distinction and earned a Master of Arts degree in national Security and Strategic Studies. Captain Nichols subsequently completed National Defense University Joint and Combined Staff Officer School at the Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, VA. Upon completi of Carrier Air Wing Commander pipeline training, which included a temporary assignment as Deputy Director of Operations on the of the Commander, Joint Task Force Southwest Asia in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, he reported to Carrier Air Wing TWO at NAS Mi CA as the Deputy Commander. he assumed command of the air wing in July 1994. Captain Nichols has flown more than 4800 flight hours in various models of Navy aircraft. His awards include Meritorious Service, Na} Commendation and Navy Achievement Medals and various unit awards. He was selected as the Naval Air Force U.S. Pacific Fleet Nay Flight Officer of the Year in 1982. In 1991 he was the recipient of the Senator Henry M. Jackson Memorial Leadership Award. Captain Nichols is married to the former Denise Payton of Chattanooga. they reside in quarters at Naval Air Station, North Island, with their two sons, David, 18 and Daniel, 14. 278