Rear Admiral Gregory D. Newkirk is the Director of Strategy, Policy & Plans (J5), North American Aerospace Defense Command and United States Northern Command, Peterson Space Force Base, Colo.

He is responsible for North American Aerospace Defense Command strategy, policy, plans and requirements development for the safeguarding of the United States and Canada via assigned missions of aerospace warning, aerospace control, and maritime warning. For the U.S. Northern Command, he leads development of strategy, policy, deliberate plans, and security cooperation with Canada, Mexico and The Bahamas, to accomplish primary missions of homeland defense and support to civil authorities.

Rear Adm. Newkirk, a native of Medina, Ohio, graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1993 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Aerospace Engineering.

Rear Adm. Newkirk was designated a naval aviator in May 1996. Upon completion of F/A-18 training in 1997, he was ordered to the Blue Diamonds of VFA 146 and Carrier Air Wing 9. He completed multiple deployments on board the USS Nimitz (CVN 68) and USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) in support of Operation SOUTHERN WATCH.

In October 2000, Rear Adm. Newkirk was ordered to VFA 122 as part of an initial cadre of instructor pilots for the new F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. There he helped establish the flight training syllabus, train the initial Fleet Replacement pilots and transition multiple squadrons from the F-14 Tomcat to the Super Hornet. In 2003, he was recognized as the Pacific Strike Fighter Wing Instructor of the Year and reported to the Kestrels of VFA 137. While with the Kestrels, Rear Adm. Newkirk served as a department head making multiple deployments aboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) supporting Seventh Fleet and Carrier Air Wing 2 participation in Operation UNIFIED ASSISTANCE.

In November 2006, Rear Adm. Newkirk reported to the Naval Personnel Command in Millington, Tenn. where he served as the Strike Fighter Assignments Officer until 2008. After completion of his tour in Tennessee, he returned to Lemoore and assumed duties as the executive officer of the VFA 122 Flying Eagles and instructor pilot.

In 2009, he reported to the Argonauts of VFA 147 as executive officer. He became the Argonauts’ commanding officer in December 2010 and deployed with Carrier Air Wing 14 aboard the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) in support of Operation NEW DAWN, Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, and Operation TOMODACHI. During this tour, the Argonauts were awarded the Arleigh Burke Pacific Fleet Trophy amongst all U.S. Navy Pacific units for gains in combat efficiency.

In 2012, Rear Admiral Newkirk reported to the National Defense University in Washington, D.C. as part of the inaugural class of the Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Management. Following graduation, he reported to the Office of the Secretary of Defense where he worked for the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy, Plans and Capabilities. In June of 2015, he reported to Chief of Naval Operations as Deputy Director of the Strategic Actions Group.

In 2016 he reported to Carrier Air Wing TWO (CVW-2) embarked on the USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) making two deployments to the Western Pacific and transitioning CVW-2 to the Navy’s first Generation Air Wing with F-35C Lightning II, as well as the E-2D and CMV-22.

In 2020 he reported to U.S. Pacific Fleet in Honolulu, Hawaii as the executive assistant to the commander. He continued in this same role at the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command from April 2021 to May 2022. In June 2022, he reported to the Joint Staff in Washington, D.C. and served as Deputy Director of Operations for Operations Team TWO.

In April 2024, he took command of Task Force 70 and Carrier Strike Group 5, forward-deployed to Yokosuka, Japan.

Rear Admiral Newkirk has accumulated over 4000 flight hours, 1000 arrested landings on 10 aircraft carriers and has served as a Strike Lead in four Air Wings. He is married to the former Nancy Estep of Medina. They have four children: Mia, Nina, Nicolas and Andrew.

Last Updated: 20 October 2025