BoB Taylor ’74
Quantico Chapter Trustee
Bob was appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy from the Syracuse, N.Y. area and is a proud member of the Class of 1974.
Upon graduation, Bob went to Pensacola, FL and Kingsville, TX where he earned his Wings of Gold as a pilot in early 1976.
After winging, he and his wife, Linda, were assigned to the Whidbey Island, WA based Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS) (VA-128 – Golden Intruders) for the A-6E Intruder. After completion of the FRS - and a quick trip for Bob back to P’cola for LSO School - they had their first tour with the VA-115 Eagles aboard the USS Midway (CV-41) out of Yokosuka, Japan. While assigned to the Eagles, the Midway maintained routine Sea of Japan and South China Sea patrols as well as two WestPac deployments.
After Japan, they returned to Whidbey and VA-128 where Bob was a Pilot & B/N Instructor as well as a FRS fleet qualification LSO.
It was then off to San Diego where Bob joined the Staff of Air Wing 14 as the Air Wing LSO. While assigned to the Wing, Bob was able to continue flying the Intruder with the VA-196 (The Main Battery) while completing a round-the-world deployment aboard USS Coral Sea (CV-43).
Leaving Air Wing 14, Bob was assigned to the Staff of Commander, Naval Air Forces, Pacific in Coronado as the CNAP LSO in charge of scheduling, coordinating, and overseeing Carrier Qualifications for both Training Command and FRS students on the West Coast.
For their next sea assignment, Bob and Linda returned to Whidbey Island to join the Swordsmen of VA-145 for a Department Head tour and WestPac deployment aboard USS Ranger (CV-61).
Staying in Whidbey after VA-145, Bob was assigned as Commanding Officer of the Medium Attack Weapons School (MAWS) tasked with the training of ordnance and flight crews in weapons loading and use of conventional and special weapons. He was able to continue flying during this time as an instructor with VA-128.
Back to sea after MAWS - but staying in Whidbey - Bob completed an Executive and Commanding Officer tour with the Boomers of VA-165 and a WestPac deployment aboard USS Nimitz (CVN-68).
Then a change of pace. After a very quick trip to Newport for a bit of training, it was back to San Diego as the Executive Officer of the USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63). While aboard as XO, The Hawk completed another WestPac deployment.
Bob was then selected for Air Wing Command and did WestPac deployments as Deputy CAG and CAG aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) and very briefly back aboard The Hawk. Bob cross-trained and flew the FA-18C Hornet as well as the Intruder as DCAG/CAG.
All good (flying) things must come to an end. Bob and Linda’s last four Navy years - prior to retirement in 2001 - were in the Pentagon as Head, Requirements for Anti-Surface Warfare (ASUW) and Anti-Air Warfare (AAW).
Post Navy, Bob was a consultant and program lead with Whitney, Bradley and Brown (WBB) as well as CACI.
Bob and Linda live in Woodbridge, Virginia. They have one daughter, Kelsey. Bob is a life member of the Alumni Association as well as a current Member and past President, Vice President, and Treasurer of the Quantico Area Chapter of USNAAA.