Capt. Daryle D. Cardone
Commanding Officer, USS Lewis B. Puller (ESB 3), Blue Crew
12 March 2021
Captain Daryle D. Cardone is a native of Nanticoke, Pennsylvania. He earned a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania in 1993. He holds a Masters of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College. He received his commission through the Officer Candidate School program in December 1995. He is also a graduate of the Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN) Air Intercept Controller course and the Carrier Airborne Early Warning Weapons School (CAEWWS).
Operational assignments include two tours with VAW-125 where he deployed aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), USS George Washington (CVN 73) and USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67). As a department head, he served as Administrative Officer and Maintenance Officer in VAW-121, aboard USS George Washington (CVN 73) and USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69). In September 2011, he reported for a second tour to VAW-121 as Executive Officer and in January 2013 assumed command. During his squadron command tour, VAW-121 deployed twice aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) and was awarded the Battle Efficiency award, the RADM Frank Akers Award for Airborne Early Warning Excellence, the Grampaw Pettibone Award, and was selected as the 2013 Secretary of Defense PHOENIX maintenance award nominee for Naval Air Force, Atlantic. Captain Cardone assumed command of USS Lewis B. Puller (ESB 3) in September 2020.
Shore assignments include tours as an instructor with VAW-120 and as a plank owner of the Hawkeye Weapons and Tactics Unit, Atlantic. He has served on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations as Special Assistant to the Director, Flag Officer Management and Distribution (N00F), in Washington, D.C., and as Executive Officer at VAW-120, the Hawkeye and Greyhound community Fleet Replacement Squadron. Captain Cardone also served in the Office of the Secretary of Defense as the Navy Military Assistant the DoD Executive Secretary and as a Trip Coordinator for the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Defense. During his tour at OSD, he was selected for the Aviation Nuclear Officer program and served as the Executive Officer onboard USS George Washington (CVN-73).
Captain Cardone has flown over 2,800 flight hours and made over 700 carrier-arrested landings. He has flown more than 120 combat missions in support of Operations DELIBERATE FORGE, SOUTHERN WATCH, ENDURING FREEDOM, and IRAQI FREEDOM. He is authorized to wear the Defense Superior Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (four awards), Strike Flight Air Medal (Bronze Numeral Four), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (four awards), and Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (two awards), and various personal, unit, service and campaign decorations.