Perdido Key Area Chamber of Commerce Breakfast Brief

The Perdido Key Area Chamber of Commerce Breakfast Brief is held on the first Friday of each month and brings the community together to learn about and discuss important issues and updates that affect local residents and businesses.  Each month a community leader will speak on a topic relevant to life in and near Perdido Key.  

The featured speaker for May 6th will be CAPTAIN TERRENCE M. SHASHATY, Commanding Officer,
NAS Pensacola.

Captain Terrence M. Shashaty is a native of Brooklyn, New York, and a 1998 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy.  He also holds a master’s degree from the U.S. Naval War College.

Designated a Naval Aviator in October 2000, Captain Shashaty completed four operational carrier deployments flying the venerable EA-6B Prowler.  During his first tour with the “Scorpions” of VAQ-132, he deployed onboard the USS George Washington (CVN 73) and the USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67). Following his first shore tour, he transferred to Carrier Air Wing TWO (CVW-2) and served as Air Wing Landing Signal Officer (LSO) and Safety Officer, deploying onboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72).  For his department head tour, he served as Safety Officer, Maintenance Officer, and Operations Officer, completing a deployment onboard the USS Enterprise (CVN 65) with the “World Famous Rooks” of VAQ-137.  On his most recent operational deployment as the Commanding Officer of the “GARUDAS” of VAQ-134, Captain Shashaty oversaw the transition to the EA-18G Growler and led its inaugural expeditionary deployment to the Indo-Pacific area of responsibility.

Captain Shashaty’s shore tours include instructor duty at VAQ-129, serving as FAM/NAV Instructor, Schedules Officer, EA-6B NATOPS Evaluator and Carrier Qualification Phase Head.  He also served as a Joint Maritime Plans Officer assigned to United States Northern Command, where he planned, coordinated and executed joint and interagency support in response to requests for assistance from civil authorities for domestic emergencies.  Captain Shashaty recently completed his tour on the Joint Staff, Deputy Directorate for Global Operations as the Electronic Warfare Branch Chief and is currently the Commanding Officer of Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida.

His accomplishments include recognition as Commander, Electronic Attack Wing, Pacific’s LSO of the Year for 2005 and Commander, Naval Air Force’s LSO of the Year for 2009.  Additionally, the “GARUDAS” received recognition as the 2017 Battle Efficiency and Arleigh Burke Award winner during his time as Commanding Officer.

Captain Shashaty has accumulated over 2,500 total hours (1,800 EA-6B hours, 400 FA-18E/F/G hours) and over 400 combat hours in support of Operations Southern Watch, Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, and New Dawn.  He has totaled over 500 arrested landings on seven different aircraft carriers and has received multiple individual and campaign awards including the Defense Meritorious Service Medal (2 awards), Meritorious Service Medal, and Strike / Flight Air Medal (3 awards).