In 1980, the squadron was again presented with the Admiral Clifton Award.
In 1980 and 1981, the squadron achieved an accident-free Mediterranean deployment aboard Kennedy, followed in 1982 by another accident-free Med cruise aboard USS Independence and the 1982 Commander, Naval Air Force U.S. Atlantic Fleet Battle "E" and CNO Safety "S" awards.
 In 1982, three VF-32 Tomcats tail numbers 211, 212 and 214, were modified to carry the Tactical Air Reconnaissance Pod System TARPS pod.

In 1983–84, the squadron completed the Navy's first combat deployment since the Vietnam era with CVW-6 aboard Independence.
VF-32 flew combat air patrol missions and provided TARPS imagery for the 4 December 1983 CVW-6/CVW-3 air strikes on Syrian positions in Lebanon.
VF-32 also flew missions in support of Operation Urgent Fury in Grenada providing pre- and post-battle damage assessment using photography from the TARPS pod.
The deployment concluded with participation in NATO exercise "TEAMWORK 84" in the Norwegian Sea.
The squadron made a third deployment aboard Independence from October 1984 through February 1985 to the Mediterranean and Indian Ocean.

The squadron rejoined CVW-3 in February 1985, and embarked aboard John F. Kennedy in August 1986 for another Mediterranean deployment.
This cruise saw the squadron's Class "A" safety record extended another year, but also included the first night F-14 barricade landing.
VF-32 participated in a variety of NATO and combined exercises, and extended their major mishap-free safety record to nine years during a 1988–89 Mediterranean deployment, again aboard John F. Kennedy.

On January 4, 1989, while flying from John F. Kennedy during a routine patrol over the Gulf of Sidra, two VF-32 F-14s intercepted two Libyan MiG-23 Floggers, which had originated from the Al Bumbai airfield in Tobruk.
 After attempting a peaceful intercept, the F-14s used their Television Camera System (TCS) to verify that the MiGs were armed.
Hostile intent was declared and the aircraft were cleared to engage.
The lead fired an AIM-7 Sparrow, which failed to track.
His wingman also fired an AIM-7, which tracked and destroyed one of the MiGs, its pilot ejecting.
The first F-14 then closed to AIM-9 Sidewinder range and downed the remaining MiG-23, whose pilot also ejected.
The squadron returned to Virginia in February 1989.

VFA-32 appeared on an episode of CBS News 48 Hours entitled "Super Carrier - USS Kennedy."
In 1980, the squadron was again presented with the Admiral Clifton Award. In 1980 and 1981, the squadron achieved an accident-free Mediterranean deployment aboard Kennedy, followed in 1982 by another accident-free Med cruise aboard USS Independence and the 1982 Commander, Naval Air Force U.S. Atlantic Fleet Battle "E" and CNO Safety "S" awards.  In 1982, three VF-32 Tomcats tail numbers 211, 212 and 214, were modified to carry the Tactical Air Reconnaissance Pod System TARPS pod.
In 1983–84, the squadron completed the Navy's first combat deployment since the Vietnam era with CVW-6 aboard Independence. VF-32 flew combat air patrol missions and provided TARPS imagery for the 4 December 1983 CVW-6/CVW-3 air strikes on Syrian positions in Lebanon. VF-32 also flew missions in support of Operation Urgent Fury in Grenada providing pre- and post-battle damage assessment using photography from the TARPS pod. The deployment concluded with participation in NATO exercise "TEAMWORK 84" in the Norwegian Sea. The squadron made a third deployment aboard Independence from October 1984 through February 1985 to the Mediterranean and Indian Ocean.
The squadron rejoined CVW-3 in February 1985, and embarked aboard John F. Kennedy in August 1986 for another Mediterranean deployment. This cruise saw the squadron's Class "A" safety record extended another year, but also included the first night F-14 barricade landing. VF-32 participated in a variety of NATO and combined exercises, and extended their major mishap-free safety record to nine years during a 1988–89 Mediterranean deployment, again aboard John F. Kennedy.
On January 4, 1989, while flying from John F. Kennedy during a routine patrol over the Gulf of Sidra, two VF-32 F-14s intercepted two Libyan MiG-23 Floggers, which had originated from the Al Bumbai airfield in Tobruk.  After attempting a peaceful intercept, the F-14s used their Television Camera System (TCS) to verify that the MiGs were armed. Hostile intent was declared and the aircraft were cleared to engage. The lead fired an AIM-7 Sparrow, which failed to track. His wingman also fired an AIM-7, which tracked and destroyed one of the MiGs, its pilot ejecting. The first F-14 then closed to AIM-9 Sidewinder range and downed the remaining MiG-23, whose pilot also ejected. The squadron returned to Virginia in February 1989.
VFA-32 appeared on an episode of CBS News 48 Hours entitled "Super Carrier - USS Kennedy."
VFA-32