Patrol Squadron 1's detachment to Diego Garcia in 1980 provided support during the Iranian hostage crisis, earning the Navy Expeditionary Medal.
 The squadron would later play host to a Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force deployment at Barber's Point in July 1983, providing maintenance and administrative support for their guests as they engaged in a month of joint training.
 Into the 1980s, VP-1 retained a proud record of safe operations, having amassed over 100,000 flight hours without an accident by 1983.
 Unfortunately this ended with a pair of accidents that year, one of which resulted in the death of fourteen aircrew.
 The subsequent investigation into these incidents resulted in the sacking of both commanding and executive officers of the squadron.

Iraq's invasion of Kuwait on 2 August 1990 drew an immediate response by the United States to defend Saudi Arabia and prepare to eject Iraq from Kuwait.
 On the 11th, VP-1 received orders to deploy to Diego Garcia in support of these efforts and were deployed there within 72 hours.
 A four aircraft detachment was deployed to RAFO Masirah, Oman along with a two aircraft detachment further forward to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
 These aircraft operated in the Persian Gulf to monitor shipping and maintain vigilance should the Iraqi Navy attempt to sortie into the Persian Gulf.
 No significant Iraqi attempt was made however, and the squadron's deployment was completed without incident.

During the 1990s, the squadron made several dispersed deployments.
 In 1990, the squadron supplied a pair of aircraft to the Joint Task Force in Panama Law Enforcement Operations in Central America.
 These aircraft completed a pair of deployments in June/July and October/November 1991 operating from Howard Air Force Base in the Panama Canal Zone.
 The aircraft supported drug interdiction efforts in Central America as part of the follow-up to Operation Just Cause.
 In 1992, a third detachment to Howard AFB was made by the squadron for counter-narcotics operations, though this detachment also operated from Pie de la Cuesta, Guerrero, Mexico, making it the first patrol squadron of the US Navy to operate from the Mexican Air Force facility.
 Other deployment locations in the 1990s included Naval Air Station Adak and Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska and Naval Air Facility Kadena and Misawa Air Force Base in Japan, as well as deployments to Guam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Oman, Singapore, South Korea, and Thailand.
 During their 1996 deployment to the Indian Ocean, the squadron participated in a pair of search and rescue missions to assist foreign vessels in distress.
 Combat operations included escort and patrol as part of Operation Desert Strike in September 1996, and the first patrol aircraft missions in the Persian Gulf to carry AGM-65 Maverick missiles, carried out in November.
Patrol Squadron 1's detachment to Diego Garcia in 1980 provided support during the Iranian hostage crisis, earning the Navy Expeditionary Medal.  The squadron would later play host to a Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force deployment at Barber's Point in July 1983, providing maintenance and administrative support for their guests as they engaged in a month of joint training.  Into the 1980s, VP-1 retained a proud record of safe operations, having amassed over 100,000 flight hours without an accident by 1983.  Unfortunately this ended with a pair of accidents that year, one of which resulted in the death of fourteen aircrew.  The subsequent investigation into these incidents resulted in the sacking of both commanding and executive officers of the squadron.
Iraq's invasion of Kuwait on 2 August 1990 drew an immediate response by the United States to defend Saudi Arabia and prepare to eject Iraq from Kuwait.  On the 11th, VP-1 received orders to deploy to Diego Garcia in support of these efforts and were deployed there within 72 hours.  A four aircraft detachment was deployed to RAFO Masirah, Oman along with a two aircraft detachment further forward to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.  These aircraft operated in the Persian Gulf to monitor shipping and maintain vigilance should the Iraqi Navy attempt to sortie into the Persian Gulf.  No significant Iraqi attempt was made however, and the squadron's deployment was completed without incident.
During the 1990s, the squadron made several dispersed deployments.  In 1990, the squadron supplied a pair of aircraft to the Joint Task Force in Panama Law Enforcement Operations in Central America.  These aircraft completed a pair of deployments in June/July and October/November 1991 operating from Howard Air Force Base in the Panama Canal Zone.  The aircraft supported drug interdiction efforts in Central America as part of the follow-up to Operation Just Cause.  In 1992, a third detachment to Howard AFB was made by the squadron for counter-narcotics operations, though this detachment also operated from Pie de la Cuesta, Guerrero, Mexico, making it the first patrol squadron of the US Navy to operate from the Mexican Air Force facility.  Other deployment locations in the 1990s included Naval Air Station Adak and Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska and Naval Air Facility Kadena and Misawa Air Force Base in Japan, as well as deployments to Guam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Oman, Singapore, South Korea, and Thailand.  During their 1996 deployment to the Indian Ocean, the squadron participated in a pair of search and rescue missions to assist foreign vessels in distress.  Combat operations included escort and patrol as part of Operation Desert Strike in September 1996, and the first patrol aircraft missions in the Persian Gulf to carry AGM-65 Maverick missiles, carried out in November.
VP-1