By Terri Bernhardt

NAKAWAGA STEVEN NAVY COVERED SEP 12Captain Steve “SNak” Nakagawa, a native of Monterey, California, is the son of an A-6 Intruder Naval Aviator. Following in his father’s footsteps, he was commissioned in 1986 through the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps program at the University of Southern California (USC) where he served as the Unit’s Battalion Commander and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering.

Captain Nakagawa joins NAWCTSD and NSA Orlando as Executive Officer from a long journey at various operational and acquisition commands, flying A-6E Intruders and EA-6B Prowlers, and at the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), Navy Personnel Command, and Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR).

He is married with two young children and “enjoys watching good football, especially when USC plays.” When asked about his vision as Executive Officer, Captain Nakagawa states, “I like the synergy of the workforce here. My focus is to do things smarter and cheaper to make training better for our nation’s warfighters.”

Captain Nakagawa has more than 2,700 flight hours in 23 different aircraft, with 652 carrier arrested landings. His decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal (three awards), Air Medal (four Strike/Flight awards), Aerial Achievement Medal, Navy Commendation Medal (three awards), Navy Achievement Medal (three awards), and various campaign, service and unit awards. He attended the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School, has a Master of Science Degree in Aviation Systems Management from the University of Tennessee Space Institute, and is a member of the Defense Acquisition
Corps.

Welcome aboard, Captain Nakagawa!

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