CDR Scott E. Welles

Past Executive Officer, Tactical Air Control Squadron TWELVE (TACRON 12)

01 May 2021 A native of Wilmette, IL, Commander Welles graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 2003, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish.  CDR Welles was commissioned through the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps Program and reported to NAS Pensacola, FL for flight training in February 2004.  He was designated a Naval Aviator in March 2006, after which he reported to the VFA‑125 Rough Raiders at NAS Lemoore, CA for initial F/A‑18C flight training.

CDR Welles was assigned to the VFA-83 “Rampagers” for his first operational fleet tour in December 2006.  He deployed twice with the “Rampagers” aboard USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER (CVN 69), in 2007 supporting Operations IRAQI FREEDOM and ENDURING FREEDOM, and in 2009 supporting Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.  CDR Welles was selected by CSFWL as the 2009 CAPT Michael Scott Speicher Pilot of the Year, and was also selected to represent CNAL as the 2009 National Order of the Daedalions Exceptional Pilot of the Year.

In April 2010, CDR Welles reported to the VX-9 “Vampires” at NAWS China Lake, CA, where he served as the Operational Test Director for the Advanced Anti‑Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM).  He was awarded the 2012 Department of the Navy Test and Evaluation Aspiring Tester Award for his work on the AARGM program.  While at VX-9, CDR Welles also graduated from the Naval Postgraduate School with an Executive Master of Business Administration, in April 2013.

In May 2013, CDR Welles reported to CVW-3 as the Strike Operations Officer, and promptly deployed aboard USS HARRY S. TRUMAN (CVN 75) in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.  Following his tour at CVW-3, CDR Welles attended the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College in Leavenworth, KS, where he was an honor graduate in 2015.

In October 2015, CDR Welles joined the VFA-37 “Ragin’ Bulls” as a Department Head, where he served as Safety Officer, Maintenance Officer, and Operations Officer.  He deployed with the “Bulls” in January 2017 aboard USS GEORGE H.W. BUSH (CVN 77) in support of Operation INHERENT RESOLVE.

Following his Department Head tour, in March 2018 CDR Welles reported to NATO Headquarters Supreme Allied Commander Transformation in Norfolk, VA as a staff officer in the Training and Exercises branch.  There he served as an exercise programmer for NATO’s major joint exercise program.  CDR Welles selected for Operations Training Command in March 2019, and reported to TACRON 12 in March 2021.

CDR Welles has accumulated more than 2,000 flight hours and 440 carrier arrested landings.  His personal awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Strike/Flight Air Medal (4 awards), Navy Commendation Medal (3 awards), and Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal (3 awards), along with various unit, service and campaign awards.