This year, the Theodore Roosevelt Association is honored to recognize Lieutenant Jennifer Yedoni, who was assigned to the USS Theodore Roosevelt last year as the Assistant Strike Operations Officer. A native of Minneapolis, MN, LT Yedoni graduated and received her commission in 2006 from the United States Naval Academy. Attending primary flight training in Pensacola, FL, and advanced training with the VAW-120 “Greyhawks” in Norfolk, VA, led her to earn her wings as a Naval Flight Officer (NFO) and qualify to fly the E-2C Hawkeye. She joined the VAW-123 “Screwtops” for her first operational tour in 2009. She was deployed twice, flying multiple missions from the USS Enterprise in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM and Operation NEW DAWN. She served as the squadron Public Affairs Officer, 1st Lieutenant, Line Division Officer, Aviation Safety Officer, and Assistant Operations Officer. In 2012, she was selected to return to the “Greyhawks” in Norfolk as a flight instructor, teaching Fleet Replacement NFOs to operate every variant of the E-2C Hawkeye and E-2D Advanced Hawkeye. She served as Aviation Safety Officer, Avionics Division Officer, and NFO Training Officer, responsible for defining the syllabus and managing training for all student NFOs.

LT Yedoni returned to sea aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt in 2015 for an around-the-world deployment in support of Operation INHERENT RESOLVE. She served as Officer of the Deck (OOD) both in port and underway, Officer Section Leader, and Assistant Command Duty Officer ashore. In addition to her primary duty, she was in charge of the high-visibility Sexual Assault Prevention and Response program for the ship.

With over 100 arrested landings and 1,000 hours, Lt. Yedoni has earned the Air Medal (Strike/Flight), the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal. We congratulate LT Yedoni for now earning the highly distinguished honor of the USS Theodore Roosevelt Junior Officer Leadership Award!