Capt. Santico “Tico” Valenzuela is a native of Phoenix, Arizona. Following high school, he enlisted in the Navy in 1996 to attend the Broadened Opportunity for Officer Selection and Training (BOOST) program. He received his commission through the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps at the University of Arizona in 2001 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration Operations Management. In 2012, he earned a Master of Business Administration, Information Technology Management, from the Florida Institute of Technology.
Capt. Valenzuela started as a Surface Warfare Officer in USS FALCON (MHC 59), Ingleside, TX. After his selection for flight training, he earned his Wings of Gold and was designated a Naval Aviator in March of 2006.
At sea, Capt. Valenzuela commanded the FLEET ANGELS of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron TWO (HSC-2) and the CHARGERS of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron FOURTEEN (HSC-14). His other sea tours included two tours forward deployed to Guam with the ISLAND KNIGHTS of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron TWO FIVE (HSC-25).
Ashore, Capt. Valenzuela served as the Deputy Executive Assistant to the Vice Chief of Naval Operations at the Pentagon, Washington, DC, as the Deputy Division Chief for Strategy and Policy at United States Strategic Command, Joint Functional Component Command for Integrated Missile Defense at Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado, and as an Assignments Officer and Assistant Aviation Officer Community Manager at Navy Personnel Command (PERS-43).
In January 2025, Capt. Valenzuela assumed the role as Executive Officer aboard USS WASP (LHD 1).
Capt. Valenzuela is a Joint Qualified Officer whose personal decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (three awards), Air Medal (two strike/flight awards), the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (four awards), the Army Commendation Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, as well as various campaign and unit awards.