On Saturday, April 23rd, Patrol Squadron SIX NINE (VP-69) based at Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island, Washington, bid farewell to their 39th Commanding Officer.
Under Commander (CDR) McKinnie’s charge, VP-69, the last operational P-3C squadron in the Navy, completed the final P-3C deployment to Kadena Air Base, Japan in April 2023. The squadron supported the Littoral Surveillance Radar System mission in 7th Fleet as the active component completes the transition to the P-8A Poseidon. His guidance ensured the squadron seamlessly fulfilled the critical deployment requirement during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to the deployment, the squadron participated in Intelligence, Surveillance, & Reconnaissance exercise Resolute Hunter at NAS Fallon, NV and Network-Enabled Weapons University at NAS Oceana, VA. CDR McKinnie leadership resulted in VP-69’s selection as the 2020 and 2021 Blue “M” for medical readiness, the 2020 Retention award, and the 2021 NAS Whidbey Captain Cup championship. After the Change of Command, CDR McKinnie will report to the Marine Corps War College at Marine Corps Base Quantico, VA.
CDR McKinnie has passed the baton to CDR Aldridge, a native of Redding, CA and a graduate of Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction, CO. CDR Aldridge commissioned through Officer Candidate School at NAS Pensacola, FL and began flight training in May 2003. His operational flying tours include serving at VP-40, Fleet Support Unit Det-10, and VP-69 as a department head. He also served as a Weapons and Tactics Instructor at Commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 10 and received a Master’s in Defense and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College in Newport, RI. CDR Aldridge completed a staff tour at Commander, Naval Air Force Reserve in San Diego, CA as the Reserve Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance program manager before reporting to VP-69 for his command tour.
The entire Totem team is grateful for CDR McKinnie’s leadership and wishes him and his family fair winds and following seas!
