Category: Captain P. Kaczynski Biography
Captain Przemyslaw “Kaz” Kaczynski is a naturalized citizen from Poland and a native of Seattle, Washington. As a youth and teen, both he and his sister, Iwona, were provided the opportunity to join numerous activities offered by the Polish Home Association in Seattle and learned about the rich history, culture, and work ethic inherent within the families and friends of the Polish Home. He attended and graduated from O’Dea High School, enjoyed sports, and later earned the rank of Eagle Scout prior to leaving home to study at the University of Washington (UW). His mother, Zdenka a native of the Czech Republic, consistently engaged in events at the Polish Home, greatly helped drive his commitment though numerous activities and provided him a key part of the “backbone” needed in raising an active youth. His father, Vlad, a former Polish Merchant Marine officer, inspired Przemyslaw to follow his dad’s footsteps at sea, resulting in his choice to “Go Navy”. During his studies at the UW in the NROTC commissioning program, Przemyslaw’s academic path resulted in the unique chance to take one course from his own dad, Prof. Vlad Kaczynski on Russian Ocean Policy, an opportunity provided as a result of his father bringing the Kaczynski family to the United States in 1976 from Poland as a Fulbright Scholar. CAPT Kaczynski earned his commission in
1996 through the NROTC program and graduated from the UW with a Bachelor of Arts in East European and Russian Studies.
Following graduation, CAPT Kaczynski attended flight school and earned his wings of gold in Corpus Christi, Texas in 1999. He then reported to VAW-120 in Norfolk, Virginia where he learned to fly the E-2C Hawkeye. In 2000, CAPT Kaczynski joined the VAW-116 SUN KINGS in Point Mugu, California and served as Communications Officer, Aircraft Division Officer, Pilot Training Officer, Assistant Operations Officer, and Naval Aviation Training and Operations Systems (NATOPS) Officer. He deployed with VAW-116 and Carrier Air Wing (CVW 2) aboard USS Constellation (CV 64) in support of Operation Southern Watch over Iraq, and in March 2003, he participated in the opening coalition operations supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Kaz then reported to the Greyhawks of VAW-120, Norfolk, VA in 2003 as a Fleet Replacement Squadron pilot instructor. He performed duties as the OPS-Admin Officer, NATOPS Officer, and E-2C Pilot Model Manager. During his tour with the Greyhawks, CAPT Kaczynski was selected as the E-2C Hawkeye Pilot of the Year.
Following his instructor tour, CAPT Kaczynski received orders to the Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island, and graduated with a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies. In 2007, CAPT Kaczynski was assigned to the VAW-112 Golden Hawks stationed in Point Mugu for his department head tour. He served as Administration Officer, Operations Officer, and Maintenance Officer while sailing aboard USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, missions flow over both Afghanistan and Iraq. While assigned to the Golden Hawks, Kaz was chosen by his community peers to receive the 2007-2008 Navy and Marine Association Leadership Award, presented by Commander, Naval Air Forces. Upon completion of his department head tour, CAPT Kaczynski received orders to North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) in Colorado Springs, Colorado where he was assigned to the Staff Secretariat in 2009. In 2010, Captain Kaczynski was selected to serve as the Deputy Executive Assistant to Commander, NORAD and USNORTHCOM. In January 2013, CAPT Kaczynski reported to the Seahawks of VAW-126 in Norfolk, VA to serve as Executive Officer and Commanding Officer while operating onboard USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) based out of Norfolk, VA, completing his command tour in May 2015.
Immediately following his command tour, the Navy selected Kaz to serve as the Air Officer, also known as the “Air Boss”, onboard the carrier USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) from September 2015 to October 2017. During the most recent deployment, CAPT Kaczynski deployed with the Bush and Carrier Strike Group 2 in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, conducting combat operations against ISIS targets in the vicinity of Iraq and Syria.
Following return from 2017’s seven month deployment, CAPT Kaczynski rotated to a new assignment as the Operations Department Head at the Navy Warfare Development Command, a command chartered to lead the development of concepts, technologies and processes for the future use of our U.S. Navy across all domains; land, air, sea, space, and cyber.
Today, CAPT “Kaz” Kaczynski serves as the Chief of Staff for Carrier Strike Group Three (CSG-3) stationed in Bremerton, Washington, and supports the synchronization and integration of capabilities provided by the personnel, ships, and aircraft assigned to the strike group centered around the carrier USS “Abraham Lincoln” (CVN 72). CAPT Kaczynski has accumulated more than 3,500 flight hours and over 400 arrested landings in the E-2C Hawkeye. He is a graduate of the Joint and Combined Warfighting School at the Joint Forces Staff College and is fluent in Polish.
His personal decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal (individual and strike/flight awards), the Navy Commendation Medal (three awards), the Navy Achievement Medal, and various campaign and unit awards. He is exceptionally grateful for the support provided by his family who preserved many fun and helpful traditions linked to family heritage and the basic principles of honest, hard work, service, innovation, and determination to become an officer of the United States Navy. He is a proud husband to Tiffany Lynne Kaczynski, a recent law school graduate turned Norfolk City Magistrate, as well as a father to his fifteen-year-old triplets, Micah, his son, and his daughters, Sydney and Fallon.
