Walter J. Davis Jr.

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Walter J. Davis Jr.
Vice Admiral Walter J. Davis, Jr., USN.jpg
Born (1936-08-01) 1 August 1936 (age 85)
Allegiance United States
Service/branchUnited States Navy
Years of service1959–1997
RankVice Admiral
Commands heldCarrier Group Six
USS Ranger
USS Sacramento
VF-114
Battles/warsVietnam
AwardsLegion of Merit (3)

Walter Jackson Davis Jr. (born 1 August 1936) is a retired vice admiral in the United States Navy who served as Director of Space and Electronic Warfare in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO).[1] From 28 February 1996 until his retirement on 1 January 1997, he was U.S. naval aviation's Gray Eagle. Davis was the second African American to become the most senior naval aviator on active duty.[2]

Early life and education[]

Born on 1 August 1936,[3] Davis was raised in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.[4] He attended the Ohio State University, graduating with a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering in 1959.[5] Commissioned through the NROTC program in June 1959, Davis reported for flight training and, despite stigmatism in his vision, was designated a naval aviator in December 1960.[6][7] He later attended the Naval Postgraduate School, earning a B.S. degree in aeronautical engineering in 1966[8] and a M.S. degree in aeronautical electronics in 1967.[4][9]

Military career[]

Davis served several combat tours in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War. He accumulated over 3,500 flight hours and over 800 carrier landings as a fighter pilot[7] flying the F-4 and F-14. Davis flew with the "Pukin Dogs" of VF-143.[4]

As a commander, Davis served as the commanding officer of the "Aardvarks" of VF-114 from 1976[10] to 1977.[11]

Promoted to captain, Davis was given command of the combat support ship Sacramento from 21 December 1981 to 2 September 1983.[12] He subsequently served as the commanding officer of the carrier Ranger from 26 June 1985 to 8 May 1987.[7]

Approved for promotion to rear admiral (lower half) in April 1988,[13] Davis served as commanding officer of Carrier Group Six in 1991[14] and 1992.[15] His flagship the carrier Forrestal was deployed to the Mediterranean and Aegean Seas immediately after the Gulf War to provide air support for Operation Provide Comfort in Iraq.[16]

Promoted to rear admiral,[17] Davis served as Director of Warfare Systems Architecture and Engineering for the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR).[15] Approved for promotion to vice admiral in September 1994,[18] his final active duty assignment until his retirement at the beginning of 1997 was as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (N6) for Space, Information Warfare, Command and Control.[4]

Later life[]

Davis is a co-founder of EvoNexus, a San Diego, California-area business incubator which has helped over 200 start-up companies during their growth from idea to realization. At the beginning of 2020, eighty-five percent of these remained in business.[6]

Personal[]

Davis is the son of Walter Jackson Davis Sr. (28 August 1910 – 20 September 1994)[19] and Inez May Stout. The couple were married on 15 August 1935 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.[20]

In December 1960, Davis Jr. married Constance Patricia "Connie" Surles in Escambia County, Florida.[21] They have two children and four grandchildren and live in Poway, California.[6]

References[]

  1. ^ "Aviator Flag Moves". Naval Aviation News. 77 (2). January–February 1995. p. 4. Retrieved 2021-03-10.
  2. ^ McMichael, William H. (29 February 1996). "Navy's Most Senior Flyers Recall Demands of the Sky". Daily Press. Hampton Roads, Virginia. Retrieved 2021-03-10.
  3. ^ Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps and Reserve Officers on Active Duty. Bureau of Naval Personnel. 1 January 1970. p. 130.
  4. ^ a b c d Lowe, Shauntel (21 May 2012). "RB Historical Society to Honor Military Pioneers at Pancake Festival". Patch. Rancho Bernardo-4s Ranch, California. Retrieved 2021-03-10.CS1 maint: location (link)
  5. ^ "Vice Admiral Walter Davis". EvoNexus. Retrieved 2021-03-10.
  6. ^ a b c Goldsmith, Jan (10 January 2020). "Someone San Diego Should Know: Walter Davis". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 2021-03-10.
  7. ^ a b c "Captain Walter Jackson Davis". USS Ranger (CVA/CV-61) History and Memorial. Retrieved 2021-03-10.
  8. ^ "Graduates of the Postgraduate School 1966". Catalogue for 1967 – 1968. Monterey, California: Naval Postgraduate School. 1967. p. 133. Retrieved 2021-03-10.
  9. ^ "Graduates of the Postgraduate School 1967". Catalogue for 1968 – 1970. Monterey, California: Naval Postgraduate School. 1968. p. 137. Retrieved 2021-03-10.
  10. ^ "People Planes and Places". Naval Aviation News. April 1976. p. 32. Retrieved 2021-03-10.
  11. ^ "People Planes and Places". Naval Aviation News. July 1977. p. 25. Retrieved 2021-03-10.
  12. ^ "USS Sacramento (AOE-1)". NavSource Naval History. Retrieved 2021-03-10.
  13. ^ "PN751 — 100th Congress (1987–1988) — Navy". U.S. Congress. 28 April 1988. Retrieved 2021-03-10.
  14. ^ Killmeyer, Ken (22 December 2020). "USS FORRESTAL Returns from her Final Deployment". USS Forrestal CV-59 Former Crew Members. Retrieved 2021-03-10.
  15. ^ a b "Flag Moves". Naval Aviation News. 75 (3). March–April 1993. p. 35. Retrieved 2021-03-10.
  16. ^ Killmeyer, Kenneth Vincent (18 December 2011). "Brief History of the USS FORRESTAL". USS FORRESTAL CVA/CV/AVT-59 Association. Retrieved 2021-03-10.
  17. ^ "PN964-2 — 102nd Congress (1991–1992) — Navy". U.S. Congress. 6 October 1992. Retrieved 2021-03-10.
  18. ^ "PN1725 — 103rd Congress (1993–1994) — Rear Adm. Walter J. Davis Jr. — Navy". U.S. Congress. 23 September 1994. Retrieved 2021-03-10.
  19. ^ "Death Records, 1968–1996". Vital Records. North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.
  20. ^ "Marriage Return" (195). State of North Carolina, Forsyth County Office of Register of Deeds. 15 August 1935.
  21. ^ "Marriage Index, 1927–2001". 1932 (36888). Jacksonville, Florida: Florida Department of Health.
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