1. Commander Patrick D. Gardner, U.S. Navy (Retired)
A Distinguished Naval Graduate of the Aviation Officer Candidate School with
honors in academics, physical training and military bearing, Commander Gardner
earned a regular commission as an Ensign in July 1984. He earned his wings of
gold as a naval flight officer in July 1985 after earning distinction as the Honor
Man of his graduating class in Training Squadron 10 (VT-10) and placement on
the Commodore’s List of Distinguished Graduates for academic and flight
performance at VT-10 and VT-86.
Commander Gardner reported to Attack Squadron 128 (VA-128) at Naval Air
Station Whidbey Island, WA in September 1985 where he received initial training
as a Bombardier/Navigator in the A-6E Intruder. He was selected as the VA-128
student bomber of the month for July 1986. Commander Gardner joined the VA-
145 Swordsmen at sea in USS RANGER (CV-61) where he served as Schedules
Officer, AT/AQ and AME/PR Branch Officer and NATOPS Instructor. During his
tour, the squadron completed a RIMPAC, two surge deployments to the Korean
Peninsula and an extended deployment to the North Arabian Sea in support of
Operation EARNEST WILL. He placed second in the night RBS event at the
1988 Intruder Derby helping VA-145 earn honors as the top West Coast Intruder
squadron for the year.
In December 1989, Commander Gardner reported to the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA where he
completed the Weapons and Systems Engineering curriculum and was awarded a Master of Science in Engineering
Sciences (Electrical Engineering).
After a series of intermediate training courses, Commander Gardner joined USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN (CVN-72) in
the Persian Gulf in July 1991 as the Assistant Strike Operations Officer, making two deployments to the region in
support of Operations DESERT STORM and SOUTHERN WATCH.
In September 1993, Commander Gardner was selected to teach at the U.S. Naval Academy in the Systems
Engineering Department. As the course coordinator for ES 410 Linear Control Systems, he designed several lab
projects for use by midshipmen engineering students to demonstrate lessons learned in the classroom. Commander
Gardner was the 1995 Engineering and Weapons Division nominee for the William P. Clements award for excellence
in education.
Back again at NAS Whidbey Island in January 1996, Commander Gardner joined Electronic Attack Squadron 129
(VAQ-129) where he received initial training as an Electronics Countermeasures Officer in the EA-6B Prowler. He
joined the VAQ-133 Wizards in November 1997 where he served as the Administrative Officer, Operations Officer
and Maintenance Officer. The squadron deployed to Incirlik Air Base, Turkey in support of Operation NORTHERN
WATCH enforcing the northern no-fly zone over Iraq.
Selected to serve on the Joint Staff, Commander Gardner reported to Operations Team Two in the National Military
Command Center (NMCC). During his tour he qualified as Senior Emergency Actions Officer, Senior Operations
Officer, Surveillance Officer, Senior SIOP Advisor and ultimately assumed responsibilities as Assistant Deputy
Director for Operations. OT-2 was on duty in the NMCC during 9/11 and worked closely with the acting Chairman of
the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Secretary of Defense in providing for the defense of the nation.
In July 2002, Commander Gardner reported aboard USS CARL VINSON (CVN-70) as the Combat Direction Center
Officer where he led a team of 12 officers, five Chief Petty Officers and 120 sailors through an accelerated, prototype
12-week inter-deployment training cycle and an early, extended deployment to the Western Pacific in support of the
Global War on Terrorism.
In August 2004, Commander Gardner was selected to serve as the Executive Officer of Naval ROTC Unit, Norwich
University in Northfield, Vermont, where he directly influenced the military training and professional development of
future Naval and Marine Officers at the nation’s oldest private military college. From September 2005 until April
2006, he served as the unit’s acting Commanding Officer and Professor of Naval Science. Upon his retirement from
active duty in October 2007, Commander Gardner became the Director of Operations and Training in the Office of the
Commandant at Norwich University.

2. His personal awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal
(Strike/Flight award), the Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal (three awards), the Joint Service Achievement
Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary and Service Medals, the Navy Expert Pistol Medal, and various unit
awards and citations.