Captain Dale spent his adolescence in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He is a 1994 graduate of the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor) with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering. He earned his Surface Warfare Officer designation in August 1996. He subsequently earned selection for lateral transfer in 1997 gaining Naval Flight Officer wings in October 1998 at the Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS) in Norfolk, VA with orders to fly the E-2C in Pt Mugu, California.
Captain Dale’s command tour occurred from February 2012 to May 2013 as Commanding Officer of VAW-116, the “Sun Kings”, located at Naval Base Ventura County flying the E-2C Hawkeye 2000. The Sun Kings assigned to CVW-2 aboard USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN (CVN-72) completed two deployments and later shifted assignment to CVW-17 aboard USS CARL VINSON (CVN-70) for a short turn around in preparation for additional deployed operations.
Captain Dale’s other at-sea tours prior to squadron Command consisted of Division Officer duties in VAW-112 with CVW-9 aboard USS STENNIS (CVN-74), and Training Officer and Maintenance Department Head duties in VAW-116 with CVW-2 aboard USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN (CVN-72) resulting in a total of four overseas deployments. Furthermore, he fulfilled deck division and engineering assignments on USS LAKE ERIE (CG-70) which included the ship’s maiden overseas deployment.
Ashore Captain Dale served as a Hawkeye Weapons and Tactics Instructor at Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center (NSAWC) in Fallon, NV. He later completed a three-year assignment as the N6 / Carrier Airborne Early Warning Weapons School (CAEWWS) Department Head at the Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center (NAWDC), previously known as NSAWC, located in Fallon, NV. He also attended the US Naval War College Newport Rhode Island as a student resulting in a Masters of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies. Joint duty occurred as a member of the current operations branch of the NORTHMCOM J3 directorate Colorado Springs Colorado. Most recently, he served over three and a half years as the Commanding Officer for Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, CA prior to assignment to Naval Support Activity Monterey, CA.
Captain Dale’s decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal Strike/Flight, and Battle E. He has accumulated nearly 3000 total flight hours and 575 carrier arrested landings on three different aircraft carriers.
Last Updated: 7 March 2022