Larchmont Admiral Hands Off Command of Carrier Strike Group Two
Larchmont native Rear Admiral Dusty Rhodes handed off command of Carrier Strike Group Two (CSG-2) to Rear Admiral P. Scott Miller at a change of command ceremony aboard the flagship USS Dwight D. Eisenhower on June 15. He will report to the Chief of Naval Operations Staff (OPNAV) in the Pentagon and serve as N98, Director of Air Warfare.
Rhodes took command of the strike group in May 2025 to drive the completion of IKE’s FY-25 Planned Incremental Availability and continue the strike group’s preparation for deployment in 2027.
“Serving as Commander, Carrier Strike Group Two has been an extraordinary privilege,” said Rhodes. “Throughout my time with this exceptional team, I witnessed firsthand the resilience and unwavering commitment of our Sailors, civilians, and our families as we navigated the challenges of a lengthy shipyard period and successfully returned to operational readiness. As the strike group enters a demanding workup cycle in preparation for deployment in early 2027, I am confident in their ability to meet every challenge and continue the legacy of excellence. It has been a true honor to serve alongside this remarkable team.”
Rhodes moved with his family to Larchmont in 1986 and he graduated from Mamaroneck High School in 1991. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1995 with a degree in Ocean Engineering. Rhodes has an MBA from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California.
His history of Command at Sea includes Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 81 and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 3. Rhodes has flown more than 3,500 F/A-18 flight hours, 820 arrested landings, and 100 combat missions. He graduated from TOPGUN and served as the air-to-air subject matter expert at Strike Fighter Weapons School Pacific.
Rhodes is married to the former Ryan Rodriquez, who was born and raised in Larchmont and Mamaroneck. She graduated from Mamaroneck High School in 1997. Ryan attended Gettysburg College and played soccer for the Lady Bullets.
Ryan’s parents are both born and raised in the Sound Shore—Dad, Carlos Sword Rodriguez from Larchmont and Mom, Donna Lee Carmer from Mamaroneck.
Ryan and Dusty Rhodes met in 2000. The Rhodes family now resides in Potomac, Maryland. They have three children, Dusty (19), Sophie (18), and Finn (16). Dusty will attend Gettysburg College this fall and play men’s Lacrosse.
“I grew up in a family where my grandfather, aunt, and father were pilots. While not military pilots, my step-father was a marine pilot in Vietnam. I always wanted to fly for the Navy,” said Rhodes, who recalled happy memories of Larchmont, where he spent summers at the Shore Club and met his wife.