Pleasanton native serves in Navy strike fighter squadron

After graduating from Foothill High School in 2014, Pleasanton native Jean-Philippe Pasteur now spends his days helping to fly one of the U.S. Navy’s most advanced warplanes.

Pasteur is an aviation electrician’s mate with the Fighting Redcocks of VFA 22, a strike fighter squadron which operates out of the Naval Air Station in Lemoore, California. Specifically, Pasteur handles the wiring for weapons computers.

“I have learned to be impartial to everyone and to be open to everyone when I was growing up,” Pasteur said. “That helped me adapt to the Navy. I was able to keep an open mind meeting people from all over the world and country.”

His squadron works with the F/A 18 Super Hornet, a 61-foot-long aircraft that operates from bases on aircraft carriers and is capable of both air combat and striking targets on land.

“Naval Aviation is a challenging occupation, but our sailors work day in and day out to provide fully mission capable aircraft and fully qualified aircrew to ensure leadership is able to answer national level tasking,” said Capt. James S. Bates, Deputy Commodore, Strike Fighter Wing, U.S. Pacific. “I am humbled to be able to lead the sailors of SFWP and I am proud to call Lemoore my home.”

Pasteur has several family members with military ties who have served in our armed forces and is deeply honored to carry on this tradition.

“My grandfather was in the Navy,” said Pasteur. “How he described it, it was something he needed to do, and he wanted to be a part of the war effort. Even though we aren’t at that same war time, I felt like I needed to join to give back to the country. This country allowed my family to succeed and I wouldn’t be who I am without that.”

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