There’s nothing quite like a first-hand account of an important event to make a story seem more exciting.

Now imagine the officer who commanded the first operational deployment of EA-18G Growlers from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island is the one sharing the story.

February’s meeting of the Association of Naval Aviation Whidbey Island Squadron 40, held at the Officers’ Club on NAS Whidbey, featured a presentation by Cmdr. Jeffrey Craig, commanding officer of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 129. The group experienced more than just a power-point lesson on conflicts half a world away. Members got an eyewitness account of VAQ-132’s operations over Iraq, and later, Libya.

Cmdr. Craig relayed a sequence of events in the Middle East that unfolded rapidly.

“In Nov., 2010, the Growler was supporting Operation New Dawn in Iraq. In March 2011, my boss told me, ‘Well, there’s good news and bad news: You’re (VAQ-132) going to be leaving Iraq, and you’re headed for Libya,” said Craig, who was VAQ-132’s commanding officer at the time. “We never expected to be deployed in an expeditionary capacity to Libya so soon.”

Nevertheless, within a space of 36 hours, the entire squadron, including 350,000 pounds of support equipment, transitioned from Iraq to Aviano, Italy, and from there, into combat over Libya in Operation Odyssey Dawn. One of the highlights of the experience, as Craig remembers it, was the opportunity to deliver briefings to then-Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Gary Roughead.

“I look at those meetings with the CNO now — what an honor for our squadron, as well as an opportunity,” said Craig.

As for the Growler’s successful operation, Craig gives full credit to the unconditional support and training that enabled them to meet the challenge of deploying somewhat earlier than any of them had originally foreseen. So it seemed fitting, he said, that they thanked the Navy leadership in a unique way:

“Someone came up with the idea to take the arming key of the first HARM missile fired during the mission, mount it in a framed plaque then later formally present it to the CNO,” said Craig, which is exactly what they did.

As he reflects back on those combat missions in the Middle Eastern theater, Craig says it makes him that much more motivated in carrying out his leadership responsibilities in VAQ-129.

“All aircrew come through 129 for training,” said Craig. “Our mission is to train the aviators and maintenance crews to be able to operate in the fleet, and be ready to go on a moment’s notice.”

He said that VAQ-129 trains some Marine Corps and Air Force crews, as well as Navy.

Speaking of the Air Force, Craig said he could not let it go without mentioning the gratitude he feels for his dad, retired Air Force Col. Reed Craig, of Anacortes, who delivered an account of his own experiences as a B-52 pilot in Vietnam during ANA’s January meeting.

“It’s been great to have my dad so close by, and it’s not just because he’s my dad,” said Craig, who characterized his father as being a great source of leadership advice, particularly from the standpoint of transitioning to new models of aircraft.

“When we first transitioned from the Prowler to the Growler in VAQ-129, I could ask him, ‘What’s your perspective on flying a new aircraft?’” said Craig. “Having his input very definitely helped me with my guys, to make that transition.

“I couldn’t ask for more support, both as a family member, and for my role in the Navy’s overall mission,” he continued.

Scott Hornung, ANA’s chapter president, asked Craig a question about the timetable of Prowler replacement, for the benefit of the audience.

“By 2015, the Navy will have fully transitioned to the Growler,” said Craig, adding that the Marine Corps would continue to fly the Prowlers.

As someone uniquely qualified to comment on the differences of the two aircrafts, Craig said it’s both humbling and fascinating to see the innovations presented by the Growler’s development.

“It’s meant more task-sharing,” said Craig, commenting on the fact that fewer personnel are needed in the newer plane. “Due to technology advances, and airframe capability upgrades, I as a pilot now “own” 50 percent of the mission.”

While Craig doesn’t speculate on what the future could hold for naval aviation, he is more than optimistic about where today’s younger personnel in the Navy are taking it.

“Aircraft capability now is already fantastic — I’d say five to 10 years out, we’re going to see advances greater than anything I can imagine,” said Craig. “And the younger folks we’re getting now will just continue to move us to that next milestone.”

The Association of Naval Aviation seeks to encourage widespread interest in the importance of naval aviation in the defense of the U.S. and its allies.

The next meeting of ANA’s local chapter will be at 11:30 a.m., March 13 at the NAS Whidbey Officers’ club.