Lieutenant Commander Christopher H. Grimes
Executive Officer
Lieutenant Commander Grimes is the Executive Officer of Fleet Readiness Center West, Lemoore, California, reporting in January 2015.
LCDR Grimes is originally from Radcliff, Kentucky. He began his military service in August 1988, completing basic training at Naval Recruit Training Center, Great Lakes, Illinois and follow-on training at Avionics "A" School, Millington, Tennessee and NAMTRAGRUDET Oceana, Virginia Beach, Virginia. As an Aviation Electronics Technician, his enlisted operational tours include Sea Operational Detachment, Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department Oceana onboard USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER (CVN-69) and Sea Operational Detachment, Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department Norfolk onboard USS AMERICA (CV-66) and USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN-73).
He separated from naval service in May 1997 to pursue his college education. While a member of the civilian sector, LCDR Grimes was employed by MILCOM Systems, Virginia Beach, Virginia as the Production Lead for Consolidated Automated Support System (CASS) Test Program Set development and manufacture. Later, he was employed by Sikorsky Support Systems, Incorporated, Troy, Alabama performing Standard Depot Level Maintenance on Navy, Army and Air Force H-60 helicopters.
LCDR Grimes graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in 2000 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Management of Technical Operations followed by a second Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Information Systems from Saint Leo University in 2001. He was commissioned in November 2001 via Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, Florida and was designated an Aerospace Maintenance Duty Officer (AMDO) in 2002. He received a Master of Science in Human Resource Management from Saint Leo University in 2009.
His commissioned operational tours include Maintenance and Material Control Officer and Assistant Maintenance Officer for the "DAMBUSTERS" of Strike Fighter Squadron ONE NINE FIVE, Atsugi, Japan and deploying onboard USS KITTY HAWK (CV-63); F/A-18 Training Officer for Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit, Oceana, Virginia Beach, Virginia; Individual Augment, Baghdad, Iraq; Avionics (IM-3) and Support Equipment (IM-4) Division Officer Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department, USS HARRY S. TRUMAN (CVN-75), Norfolk, Virginia; and, Maintenance and Material Control Officer for the "GLADIATORS" of Strike Fighter Squadron ONE ZERO SIX, Oceana, Virginia Beach, Virginia. Most recently, LCDR Grimes completed a tour as Carrier Air Wing TWO Maintenance Officer (CAGMO), Lemoore, California and deployed onboard USS RONALD REAGAN (CVN-76).
His awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (three), Joint Service Achievement Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (two) and various unit awards. He is authorized to wear the Professional Aviation Maintenance Officer Warfare insignia.