Gateway Class of 1990
Tony accepts this induction into the Gateway Sports Hall of Fame with great pride and honor. His passion for football started when he was a child watching the Steelers of the 70’s. Like so many kids of that era, he recalls imitating Terry Bradshaw throwing touchdowns to his teammate wearing the black and gold.
Many years’ of hard work and dedication ensued. Tony carried a football around everywhere he went and spent countless hours practicing with his father and neighborhood friends. His dream was to play quarterback for the Gateway Gators, and thus remembers studying the techniques of past Gateway quarterback greats such as Layne Veranka, Terry Smith and Todd Washington. Finally, after years of preparation and hard work his opportunity came.
As a 2 year starting quarterback, he compiled a career record of 13-5-2, going undefeated during the regular season of his junior year. Throughout his high school career, Tony completed 65% of his passes and threw for more than 2100 yards and 22 touchdowns. In his senior season, Tony was selected Associated Press 2nd team all-state and to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Fabulous 22. That same year, along with teammate Russ Weaver, he was inducted into the East Boros Sports Hall of Fame.
During his senior year, he accepted a scholarship to play football at the University of Maryland. After redshirting his first year, Tony saw playing time against WVU and North Carolina. In 1992, Tony elected to transfer to the University of Memphis where he started at quarterback for part of his junior year and continuing into his senior year. He was also elected team co-captain during the 1994 season.
Listening to his father speak of his experiences flying helicopters during the Vietnam War, Tony always had an interest in aviation. After graduating from the University of Memphis, Tony pursued an opportunity to become a Naval Aviator. Graduating from Officer Candidate School in February 1996, he reported for initial flight training in Pensacola, Florida, and was designated a Naval Aviator in October 1997. Currently, Tony holds the rank of Commander.
Following initial P-3 Orion training at VP-30 in Jacksonville, Florida, Tony reported to the VP-4 “Skinny Dragons” based in Kaneohe, Hawaii. He completed three extended operational deployments to Japan, Oman and Bahrain flying surveillance and reconnaissance missions in direct support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. During this tour, he was designated as a P-3 Orion Patrol Plane Commander, Mission Commander, P-3 Instructor Pilot and Primary Pilot NATOPS Evaluator. He also served as the command’s Personnel Officer, Communication Security Officer, Aircraft Division Officer and Pilot NATOPS Officer.
In February 2002 Tony was nominated and selected as a Fleet Replacement Squadron Instructor Pilot assigned to VP-30 in Jacksonville, Florida. While serving in this capacity, he was instrumental in the training of over 200 U.S. and International pilots and Naval Flight Officers. Beyond his primary duties as an instructor pilot, he served as a P-3 Orion tactics instructor, Flight Engineer Division Officer and Operations Flight Officer.
In August 2004 Tony transitioned to the Navy Fleet Logistics Support Wing and reported to the VR-62 “Nor’Easters” based in Brunswick, Maine, where he flew the C-130 Hercules. During this assignment, he served as the Training Department Head, Administrative Department Head and Maintenance Department Head. In November 2007, he reported to the VR-64 “Condors” based in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, where he served as Operations Department Head. While assigned to VR-62 and VR-64, Commander Scarpino flew over 200 sorties providing direct logistical support to Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM.
In November 2009 Tony was chosen to serve as the Defense Legislative Fellow for U. S. Senator Christopher “Kit” Bond (R-MO) during the 111th congress. As a fellow, Tony was responsible for providing military related advice to the senator and assisting with the preparation of the fiscal year spending requests for submittal to the Defense Appropriations Committee. In January 2011, he was assigned to the Pentagon to head the Congressional Liaison branch for the Chief of Navy Reserve (CNR). During this assignment, Tony developed a comprehensive Congressional engagement plan for the CNR which focused and prioritized efforts to enable effective communication with Congressional members and their staffs, oversight committees, and corporate/community audiences.
Selected to Operational Command, Commander Scarpino currently holds the position of Executive Office at VR-62 now stationed in Jacksonville, FL. He is slated to take over as VR-62’s Commanding Officer in 2012.
Tony earned a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Touro University International, completed Joint Professional Military Education from the Air Command and Staff College and graduated from Georgetown University’s 2010 Capitol Hill fellowship program. Accumulating nearly 3,000 flight hours in the P-3 Orion and C-130 Hercules aircraft, his personal decorations include the Navy Commendation Medal (4 awards), Navy Achievement Medal (2 awards) and various unit and campaign awards.
Tony is married to Tricia Scarpino, they are blessed with three wonderful children, Madison (13), Mia (10) and Anthony III (7). Tony attributes his accomplishments and success to his supporting and dedicated parents, Marlene Scarpino and the late Anthony Scarpino Sr. Tony’s experiences at Gateway were full of pride and joy; he gives a special thanks to Pete Antimarino, all the Gators assistant coaches and his former teammates for their support.