CAPTAIN JOHN SMAJDEK, USN
Commanding Officer
Fleet Readiness Center Southwest

    Captain John Smajdek was born in San Bernardino, California and graduated from the University of Texas at San Antonio. He attended Aviation Officer Candidate School and was commissioned an Ensign in 1987.

    Received his designation as an Aeronautical Maintenance Duty Officer in 1988 and received orders to the Fighting Red Griffins of VS-38 in San Diego, California. While at VS-38, he served as the Material Control Officer then as Maintenance/Material Control Officer during Operation Desert Storm on board USS Ranger (CV-61). From there, he reported as the Power Plants Officer at Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department, Naval Air Station North Island.

    In 1994, he reported to the Golden Falcons of HS-2 and served as the Assistant Maintenance Officer for two deployments on board USS Constellation (CV-64). Next, he received orders to Commander, Helicopter Anti-Submarine Wing U.S. Pacific Fleet as the Wing Assistant Maintenance Officer.

    His final shipboard assignment was in 2001 on board the USS Tarawa (LHA-1) as the Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Officer. He was then assigned as the Officer-In-Charge of the Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Officer, North Island where he oversaw the implemented AIRSpeed best business practices.

    He was then assigned as the director of all Intermediate Maintenance Activities for Commander, Naval Air Forces, coordinating the implementation of AIRSpeed best business practices at intermediate maintenance activities throughout the Navy and Marine Corps. He then reported to PMA-260 at Naval Air System Command as the Deputy Program Manager for the Consolidated Automated Support System (CASS) Program.

    After his promotion to Captain, he was transferred to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations to serve as the Aviation Readiness Branch Head, overseeing the development of budgets for the Aviation Depot Maintenance Program, Flying Hour Program, and the Aviation Support Program.

    Captain Smajdek holds a Bachelors Degree in Science and a Masters in Business Administration in Financial Management. His military decorations include: four Meritorious Service Medals, six Navy and Marine Corp Commendation Medals, one Navy and Marine Corp Achievement Medal, four Sea Service Deployment Ribbons, and various unit commendation and campaign ribbons.