Walter J. Davis Jr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Walter J. Davis Jr.
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | 1 August 1936 |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Service/ |
United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1959–1997 |
| Rank | Vice Admiral |
| Commands held | Carrier Group Six USS Kitty Hawk USS Sacramento VF-114 |
| Battles/wars | Vietnam |
| Awards | Legion of Merit (3) |
Walter Jackson Davis Jr. was born on August 1, 1936. He is a retired Vice Admiral from the United States Navy. A Vice Admiral is a very high-ranking officer. He was in charge of Space and Electronic Warfare for the Navy. From 1996 until he retired in 1997, he held a special title called the 'Gray Eagle'. This title is given to the longest-serving naval aviator still on active duty. Walter Davis was also the second African American to achieve this important role.
Contents
Early Life and Learning
Walter Davis was born in 1936 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He went to Ohio State University. In 1959, he earned a degree in electrical engineering. He joined the Navy through a program called NROTC. Even with some vision issues, he became a naval aviator (a Navy pilot) in 1960. Later, he went back to school at the Naval Postgraduate School. There, he studied aeronautical engineering and electronics.
A Career in the Military
Walter Davis served in the Vietnam War. He flew many missions in Southeast Asia. As a fighter pilot, he flew F-4 and F-14 jets. He spent over 3,500 hours flying. He also landed on aircraft carriers more than 800 times. Landing on a carrier is a very difficult skill.
Leading Fighter Squadrons
As a Commander, Davis led a squadron called the "Aardvarks" (VF-114). He was their commanding officer from 1976 to 1977. He also served as the Executive Officer (XO) on the USS Kitty Hawk. He was promoted to Captain in March 1981.
As a Captain, Davis commanded the combat support ship Sacramento. He was in charge of this ship from 1981 to 1983. Later, he commanded the aircraft carrier Ranger. He led the USS Ranger from 1985 to 1987.
Becoming an Admiral
In 1988, Walter Davis was approved to become a Rear Admiral. He then commanded Carrier Group Six in 1991 and 1992. His main ship, the aircraft carrier Forrestal, went to the Mediterranean Sea. It helped provide air support for Operation Provide Comfort in Iraq. This was right after the Gulf War.
Davis was promoted to Vice Admiral in 1994. His last job before retiring was as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations. He was in charge of Space, Information Warfare, and Command and Control. He retired from the Navy at the beginning of 1997.
After retiring, Walter Davis helped start a company called EvoNexus. This company is a San Diego, California-area business incubator. It helps new companies grow from an idea into a real business. By 2020, EvoNexus had helped over 200 start-up companies. A large number of these companies were still successful.
Family Life
Walter Davis Jr.'s parents were Walter Jackson Davis Sr. and Inez May Stout. They got married in 1935. In December 1960, Walter Davis Jr. married Constance Patricia "Connie" Surles. They have two children and four grandchildren. They live in Poway, California.
Images for kids
-
Vice Admiral Walter J. Davis Jr.
