Aledo Navy aviator announces retirement

CDR Robert Gustavson has announced his retirement from the U.S. Navy after 20 years of service.

Gustavson was commissioned in May 2002 after graduating from the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota. He received orders to flight school and was winged a Naval Aviator in 2004 at the Naval Air Station in Kingsville, Texas.

In Kingsville Robert met, fell in love, and married his wife, Holly, a native of Rosenberg, Texas. Holly was in graduate school at the University of Texas in Austin.

 The couple moved to California, by way of Virginia, where Robbie flew E-2C “Hawkeyes” off the USS Ronald Reagan for three deployments before taking orders to NAS Meridian, Mississippi as a flight instructor.

He continued in flight assignments and eventually was able to return with his wife to Texas when the Navy brought the Gustavson family to Aledo in 2016.

In all, he accumulated more than 3,600 flight hours and 213 arrested landings aboard aircraft carriers.

He retired as a Commander on Nov. 1 out of the Fleet Logistics Support Wing at NAS JRB Fort Worth, flying the C-40A "Clipper."

“We've been blessed to be a part of many great communities during our time in the Navy, but Aledo is a special place and we have truly found a home here,” Gustavson said. “From the incredible teachers to the welcoming and supportive people we could not have found a better place to plant a flag.”

CDR Robert Gustavson is shown with family members (from left) Adeline, Wyatt, wife Holly, and Liam.

Holly works as a Speech-Language Pathologist at Annetta Elementary School and Beyond Faith Home Health.

Daughter Adeline is a member of the National Junior Honor Society at Aledo Middle School, and participates in cheer and dance.

Son Liam plays three sports and is learning the clarinet in the sixth-grade band at AMS.

Son Wyatt goes to school at Grace Learning Tree.