Naval Air Station Lemoore: TOP GUN Commander, Carrier Air Wing Seventeen Relieved of Duties. #CaMil

The commander of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17 was relieved of his duties during ongoing investigation into allegations of an inappropriate relationship with a junior female Navy officer within his chain of command. 

U.S. Navy Capt. Jeffrey Winter, the deputy commander of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17, signals to his plane captain as he prepares for a flight in an F-A-18F Super Hornet aircraft assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- The commander of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17 was relieved of his duties Sept. 20 by the commander of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 1.

Rear Adm. David F. Steindl relieved Capt. Jeffrey S. Winter due to a loss of confidence in his ability to command.

Winter's relief follows the preliminary findings of an on-going command investigation into allegations of an inappropriate relationship with a junior female Navy officer within his chain of command.

Winter, who took command of CVW-17 in June 2013, has been temporarily reassigned to Commander, Naval Air Forces, U.S. Pacific Fleet, pending final results of the investigation.

Capt. Matthew L. Leahey, Deputy Commander, CVW-17, has temporarily assumed the duties as commander of CVW-17.

CVW-17, based at Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif., is currently attached to CSG-1.

-------------------------------------------------

CAPT Jeffrey S. Winter United States Navy Commander, Carrier Air Wing SEVENTEEN ~CVW-17~

Captain Jeffrey S. Winter, U.S. Navy
Commander, Carrier Air Wing 17

Captain Jeffrey "Chilly" Winter was born in Honolulu, Hawaii where he was adopted by a military family.

 He lived all across this great country but ultimately graduated from Elkhorn High School in Elkhorn, Nebraska. 

He received his commission in June 1989 from the United States Naval Academy where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering.

Entering flight training in July 1989, Captain Winter earned his wings as a Naval Aviator from Training Squadron TWO FIVE at Beeville, Texas where he flew the T-2 Buckeye and A-4 Skyhawk. 

His next assignment was for initial training in the FA-18 Hornet with Strike Fighter Squadron ONE ZERO SIX at Jacksonville, Florida. In 1993, he reported to the World Famous Golden Dragons of Strike Fighter Squadron ONE NINE TWO at Atsugi, Japan for his first operational assignment. While a member of the Golden Dragons, he made two deployments onboard USS Independence (CV 62) to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Southern Watch. 

Captain Winter was selected to attend and graduated from the Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN) in San Diego, California before leaving Japan.

In February 1996, Captain Winter received orders back to the Navy Fighter Weapons School for duty as an instructor pilot. He moved to Fallon, Nevada in June 1996 when TOPGUN relocated as part of the formation of the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center. During his tenure as an instructor, he taught all manners of strike-fighter employment to the Navy’s best and brightest aviators, and intercept controllers from all services.

Upon the conclusion of his tour at TOPGUN in February 1999, Captain Winter received a brief refresher in carrier qualification and reported to the Sidewinders of Strike Fighter Squadron EIGHT SIX in Jacksonville, Florida as their Strike-Fighter Tactics Instructor. He made his first deployment with the Sidewinders onboard USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) to the Mediterranean Sea and Persian Gulf in support of Operation Southern Watch. After assuming the role of Maintenance Officer and then Operations Officer, he deployed onboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) to the North Arabian Sea in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. His tour with the Sidewinders was highlighted by his selection as the 2000 Michael G. Hoff Attack Aviator of the Year Award Winner.

In February 2003, Captain Winter transferred to Nellis Air Force Base after initial F-16 training with the 302d Fighter Squadron in Phoenix, Arizona. He served as an Assistant Operations Officer and F-16 instructor pilot with the 16th Weapons Squadron, USAF Fighter Weapons School. Furthermore, he was voted the Outstanding Instructor Pilot by both graduating classes of the 2004 Weapons Instructor Course.

In September 2005, he reported as Executive Officer of Strike Fighter Squadron ONE ONE THREE, taking command in December 2006. While with the Stingers, he made two deployments in USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), which included participation in Operation Iraqi Freedom. He subsequently took command of the Rough Raiders of Strike Fighter Squadron ONE TWO FIVE in May 2008. Beginning in August 2009, he served as the Deputy Director for Strategy, Plans and Policy (J5) at the U.S. Special Operations Command in Tampa, Florida.

Throughout his aviation career, Captain Winter has amassed over 4,000 flight hours and 800 arrested landings on eight different aircraft carriers. His personal awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, three Meritorious Service Medals, nine Air Medals (7 Strike-Flight, 1 Individual Action, and 1 with Combat “V”), and five Navy Commendation Medals (1 with Combat “V”). Captain Winter reported to Carrier Air Wing SEVENTEEN (CVW-17), NAS Oceana, VA onboard USS CARL VINSON (CVN 70) in December 2011 and assumed duties as Commander in June 2013.

-Source: 

From Commander, Naval Air Forces, U.S. Pacific Fleet Public Affairs

Source Navy press release: http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=76722

Story Number: NNS130921-01 Release Date: 9/21/2013 6:28:00 AM

--------------------------------------------

CFN - California Fire News 2013 

 -