Dan is a graduate of the California Maritime Academy (BS & Third Mate’s License ’88) and the Naval War College (’04), and holds a Master’s in Foreign Affairs and Strategic Studies and a Master’s in Computer Information Science. He earned his Naval Aviator Wings of Gold (’92) with orders to fly the F/A-18C Hornet supersonic carrier-capable fighter and attack combat aircraft, commanded the F-18 E Super Hornet Strike Fighter Squadron 27 aboard USS Kittyhawk, had 2 tours aboard USS Constellation with Strike Fighter Squadron 151, completed the Navy Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor program known as TOPGUN (‘97), commanded the “Royal Maces” when named the Navy’s best attack squadron, has over 3,500 F-18 flight hours and over 1,100 carrier landings, and commanded a Provincial Reconstruction Team in Afghanistan. As a flag officer he was the assistant chief of staff and chief of staff for Strategy, Resources and Plans for Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe and U.S. Naval Forces Africa and for Commander, U.S. 6th Fleet. He now commands the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group consisting of 7,000 sailors on 9 ships, including USS Theodore Roosevelt, USS Bunker Hill, USS Zumwalt, 6 guided missile destroyers of Destroyer Squadron 23, and 80 aircraft of Carrier Air Wing ELEVEN. Dan was the 1997 Commander Strike Fighter Wing Pacific Adm. Wesley McDonald Junior Officer of the Year. His decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Air Medal Strike/Flight (3), Combat Action Ribbon, and Battle E (3).