Commander Carlos E. Ayuso was born on 8 July 1959 at Fort Benning, Georgia, the son of Staff Sergeant (U.S. Army) Carlos and Margrit Ayuso and was raised in Tacoma, Washington. He attended the U.S. Naval Academy where he graduated in May 1981 with a Bachelor of Science Degree and began flight training six months later.
Commander Ayuso was designated a Naval Aviator in June 1983 and reported to VT-4 for duty as a flight instructor under the Selectively Retained Graduate program. In March 1985, he was selected for replacement pilot training in the A-7E Corsair II and reported to the VA-122 "Flying Eagles" at NAS Lemoore, California. He was then assigned to VA-27 where he made two Western Pacific/ Indian Ocean deployments on USS CARL VINSON (CVN-70).
Following his tour with the "Royal Maces", Commander Ayuso transitioned to the F/A-18 Hornet and served as an instructor and Landing Signal Officer with the VFA-125 "Rough Raiders" from 1989 to 1991. He next reported for duty as a department head with VFA-147. While with the "Argonauts", he made one Western Pacific/ Indian Ocean/Arabian Gulf deployment on board USS NIMITZ (CVN-68), including flights over Iraq as part of Operation SOUTHERN WATCH.
Commander Ayuso's next assignment was to the U.S. Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island. He graduated in November 1994, earning a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies. He then reported to the Naval Strike Warfare Center at NAS Fallon, Nevada where he served until February 1996 as the Operations Department Head. While at "Strike" he was temporarily assigned to the Combined Air Operations Center for Operation DENY FLIGHT located in Vicenza, Italy. He reported to the "World Famous Golden Dragons" of Strike Fighter Squadron 192 as Executive Officer in May 1996. Commander Ayuso assumed command of the Dragons on Sepember 3, 1997.
Commander Ayuso has accumulated more than 3500 flight hours and 653 arrested landings. His decorations include the Air Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, two Navy Commendation Medals, and two Navy Achievement Medals.
Commander Ayuso is married to the former Diana Louise Knight, daughter of First Sergeant (U.S. Army, Ret.) Jimmy and Rose Marie Magee of Lakeland, Florida.
"SSHWFGD"