Meet the New Leaders: Lt. Cmdr. Ryan Salcido, Operations Officer

Lt. Cmdr. Ryan Salcido, a native of Temple City, Calif., graduated from Miami University of Ohio in 2004 and enlisted in the Navy as an Avionics Technician. He was selected for Officer Candidate School in 2008. He earned his Wings of Gold as a Naval Flight Officer in October 2009 and was selected to fly the EA18G Growler. He studied Network Operations at the Naval Post-Graduate School and holds a Collection Management Fundamentals certificate from the Defense Intelligence Agency. Salcido comes to NSA Souda Bay from the “Gauntlets” of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 136 where he served as the operations, administrative and safety officer assigned to Carrier Air Wing TWO (CVW-2) aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70). He brings experience to Team Souda of more than 1000 flight hours, 22 combat missions, and 312 carrier arrested landings over multiple deployments and operations. He is stationed here with his wife and two sons.

What is the role of the operations officer?

Operations is everything that we do to support all of the military missions. So, it’s the airfield. It’s the port. It’s helping aircraft get the fuel they need, and get the munitions and the ammunitions that they need to go execute their mission. It’s bringing in the ships so they can bring on (passengers) drop people off and do the logistics they need. And everything that encompasses: working lodging, working security, working with ammunition, and working with the fuel depot. There’s a lot pieces – people don’t really realize that just for a jet to take off 500 people have touched that in some way through the supply chain or through the logistics or support or even just safety, making sure that we are conducting operations safely and in accordance with our procedures and in accordance with our instructions. I need to make sure that we are synchronized and that the team has what they need to be successful.

Why did you decide to join the Navy?

When I was in college I was a bike messenger in Manhattan so I had been to the Twin Towers and (was) familiar with New York, so I definitely think it was that call to service right after (9/11). So, I graduated in ’04 and that was a hot and heavy time, I mean the wars were just starting to ramp up, we didn’t know what was going on, so I figured I’d serve for a few years and maybe make some money, but I feel like I just wanted to serve. But I liked it so I decided to stay in.

What experience in your career best prepared you for your role here?

I have both been at the (Combatant Command) level at (Pacific Command) where I worked at Camp Smith, which is PACOM headquarters, as well as at a strike group for an admiral out in Japan working in strike group operations, and both of those times we had a lot of engagement with internationals, coalitions, allies and partners, all supporting operations. So, I feel like both of those jobs are going to help prepare me for realizing the stakeholders that are involved, all the complexities to actually making all the aircrafts and ships do what they need to do and getting through to support them.

What are you looking forward to most about your time in Greece?

We’re really looking forward to just the climate. This island is incredible. We’re looking forward to exploring. I love swimming and being in the water. The wife likes to hike, so it seems like it’s going to be awesome. I am also looking forward to this mission. I feel like we do some pretty badass stuff here and I’m looking forward to being a part of the team.

What do you like to do in your free time?

I want to be in the water as much as possible and be hanging with the family. I like to swim but I do want to get into diving, maybe spear fishing or diving, so I would like to try that.

What do you want Team Souda to know about you?

I think I have a pretty good sense of humor so let’s make it fun. Feel free to make fun of me and I’ll do the same to you. We have two boys: an 8-year-old and an 11-year-old. Gabriel and Ilias. Funny thing is, we named Ilias, which is a very Greek name, in Japan. Never even thought about coming to Greece, never knowing anything about Greece, we just picked the name because it felt like a good name, and we tell people his name and they are ‘oh’ and know how to pronounce it.