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Capt. Craig Owen became commanding officer of Fleet Readiness Center Southwest (FRCSW) on Aug. 11 2016. A native of Jamesport, MO, Capt. Owen previously served as the command’s executive officer.
FRCSW provides comprehensive, quality support to the nation’s aviation warfighters through overhaul, repair, and modification of Navy and Marine Corps front line tactical, logistical, and rotary-wing aircraft and their components by using state-of-the-art management systems.
Headquartered at NAS North Island, the command has detachments at five other locations: Marine Corps Air Stations Miramar, CA; Yuma, AR; and Kaneohe Bay, HA; Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, CA; and Naval Air Station Point Mugu, CA.
Capt. Craig Owen became commanding officer of Fleet Readiness Center Southwest (FRCSW) on Aug. 11, 2016. A native of Jamesport, MO, Capt. Owen previously served as the command’s executive officer.
Capt. Craig Owen grew up in Jamesport, MO, and graduated from Tri-County High School in 1981. He enlisted in the Navy in December 1981 and upon completion of boot camp, reported to Aviation Structural Mechanic School in Memphis, Tennessee.
Capt. Owen was promoted to Chief Petty Officer in 1991 after only nine years of enlisted service and held the rank of Chief Petty Officer for two years. As part of the Limited Duty Officer Program, Capt. Owen was commissioned in 1993 and completed initial officer training at Schools Command in Pensacola, FL.
His tours encompass cruises in the Pacific Ocean and Mediterranean Sea onboard USS John F. Kennedy (CVN-67), USS George Washington (CVN 73), USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), the USS Midway (CV 41) and the USS Ranger (CV 61) as well as a work-up cruise with the USS Enterprise (CVN 65).
Capt. Owen served with multiple squadrons, to include Helicopter Combat Support Squadron ONE (HC-1), Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Fourteen (HS-14), Attack Squadron One Four Five (VA-145), Electronic Attack Squadrons One Two Nine (VAQ-129), One Three Nine (VAQ-139), One Four One (VAQ-141) and Strike Fighter Squadron One Three One (VFA-131), gaining experience in several Type/Model/Series aircraft platforms, including SH-3 Sea King, A-6 Intruder, EA-6B Prowler and F/A-18 Hornet aircraft.
His shore duty assignments include Aviation Intermediate Maintenance Detachments in Rota, Spain and Norfolk, Va., Fleet Readiness Center Mid-Atlantic (FRCMA), Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV), Commander, Fleet Readiness Centers (COMFRC) and Fleet Readiness Center Southwest (FRCSW).
Capt. Owen received his undergraduate degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University with a major in Professional Aeronautics in 1999, and transitioned to the Aerospace Engineering Maintenance Duty Officer, 1520 Designator, in 2000. Capt. Owen earned dual Master’s degrees in Aviation Aerospace Safety Systems and Aviation Aerospace Management, graduating from Embry-Riddle in 2005 with honors.
Capt. Owen’s personal awards and decorations include four Meritorious Service Medals, eight Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, six Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals and numerous unit awards.
He is Acquisition Professional Certified and has received numerous Defense Acquisition University certifications to include Production Quality and Manufacturing Level III, Logistics Level III, Program Management Level III and Systems Planning Research Development and Engineering Level II.
