Cmdr. Richard A. Mooney is a native of Mashpee, Massachusetts. He was commissioned in 2009 through the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps after earning a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He also holds a Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Michigan.

Mooney’s first operational assignment included serving as division officer and naval air training operations standardization officer with the Red Lions of Helicopter Sea Combat (HSC) Squadron 15 as part of Carrier Air Wing 17 aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) and Carrier Strike Group 1 in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. Additionally, he served as aviation safety officer, squadron operations officer, and officer in charge as part of HSC-23 embarked aboard USS Jackson (LCS 6) marking the first deployment of the MQ-8C Fire Scout, an unmanned helicopter, to the Western Pacific.

Ashore, as an advanced flight training rotary wing flight instructor, he served as assistant operations officer of Helicopter Training Squadron 28 under Training Air Wing 5 in Milton, Florida. Additionally, he served as unmanned aircraft system troop commander for Naval Special Warfare’s Special Reconnaissance Team 1 in Coronado, California, where he provided airborne intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance to U.S. West Coast-based SEAL teams in support of various Special Operations Command Central and Special Operations Command Pacific task forces. Most recently, he served as the deputy chief architect and test project lead for the Geospatial Intelligence Systems Program Executive Office supporting the Department of War Joint Long Range Fires Office high priority initiatives at the National Reconnaissance Office in Chantilly, Virginia.

Mooney reported as commanding officer at Mine Warfare Training Center in August 2025.

His personal decorations include the Distinguished Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (three awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (two awards), and various unit and campaign awards.

Last Updated: 10 September 2025