Command Biographies

Colonel Andre "Merk" Mercier, Commanding Officer, VX-31

Col Andre “Merk” Mercier is a native of Edgartown, Massachusetts.  He was commissioned in August 1989 through the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) Program at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering.  Graduating from the Basic School in March 1990 and Flight School in June 1991, he was designated a Naval Flight Officer in July 1991 at Naval Air Station (NAS), Pensacola, Florida.

After flight school Col Mercier was trained as an EA-6B Prowler Electronic Countermeasures Officer (ECMO) at VAQ-129 in Whidbey Island, Washington and assigned to VMAQ-4 in Cherry Point, North Carolina in January 1992.  While with the “Seahawks,” he served as the ground training officer and squadron weapons and tactics instructor, and completed two deployments to Japan and one to Sigonella, Italy, flying 28 combat missions during Operation DENY FLIGHT.

He was assigned to VAQ-129 in Whidbey Island, Washington, as an FRS instructor from June 1996 to June 1999.  He remained at Whidbey from June 1999 to May 2000 as the requirements technology officer (N83) on the staff of the Commander Electronic Attack Wing Pacific, where he defined simulator and aircraft requirements and served as a member of the ICAP III Mission Software IPT and Fleet Project Team.

Selected to attend U.S. Naval Test Pilot School (TPS), he reported to NAS, Patuxent River, Maryland in July 2000.  After graduating from TPS in July 2001, Col Mercier was assigned to Air Test and Evaluation Squadron TWO THREE
(VX-23) where he served as a project officer for EA-6B software upgrades, Multi-mission Advanced Tactical Terminal/Improved Data Modem (MATT/IDM), and ICAP III from July 2001 to June 2002.

From June 2002 to February 2004 he served as the EA-6B platform coordinator leading all EA-6B test programs.  This included developmental test of ICAP III, the largest EA-6B test program in over 20 years.  Under his leadership the ICAP III test team won the Captain Steven A. Hazelrigg Award for test team excellence in June 2004, and he personally won the 2003 A. C. McMullen Award for leadership in test and evaluation from the Association of Old Crows.

From February 2004 to June 2004 Col Mercier served as the operations officer for VX-23 where he managed aircraft, aircrew and facilities coordination for over 30 test projects, on 31 unique test aircraft, across 3 aircraft models.  He earned a Master of Science degree in Aviation Systems from the University of Tennessee in May 2004. 

From June 2004 to June 2006 he served as Executive Officer, Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron THREE (VMAQ-3) where he deployed to Afghanistan flying 48 combat missions providing electronic attack support to coalition ground forces.  From June 2006 to August 2009 he has served as the mission systems IPT lead on the F-35 program.  He served as the chief test pi lot for Air Test and Evaluation Squadron THREE ONE (VX-31) from January 2010 to June 2011.  Col Andy Mercier assumed command of VX-31 in China Lake, California, on 9 June 2011.

Col Mercier’s personal decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Navy Commendation Medal with Combat V and Navy Achievement Medal.