Leadership Team

CAPTAIN CHRISTOPHER J. FLETCHER

U.S. NAVY (Retired)

A native of Ithaca, New York, Captain Fletcher graduated with a computer science degree from Ithaca College and was commissioned in January of 1989 through the Navy Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) program at Cornell University.

In Pensacola, Florida, he completed his flight training and earned his Navy Wings of Gold. During Captain Fletcher’s follow on assignments in Florida, California, and Hawaii, he deployed to the Middle East multiple times with the Navy/Marine Corps team in support of Maritime Interception Operations, Operation Southern Watch, and Operation Desert Thunder. Captain Fletcher commanded one of the Navy’s forward-deployed helicopter squadrons in Atsugi, Japan, supporting Carrier Air Wing 5 in the western pacific. Later, he served at United States European Command in Stuttgart, Germany and Naval Forces Europe, Naval Forces Africa, Sixth Fleet in Naples, Italy, where he was the Deputy Director for Operations during numerous engagements throughout North Africa and the Middle East. Captain Fletcher’s final active duty assignment was in New Jersey. He served as the Deputy Commander of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst and Commanding Officer of NSA Lakehurst, overseeing a 64 square mile military installation with 35,000 service members and families, bringing 6.7 billion dollars into the local economy.

He retired after completing over 27 years of military service and accumulating over 3,000 flight hours and over 600 shipboard landings in the SH-60B Seahawk helicopter. Captain Fletcher’s individual military decorations include the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medals, Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medals, and various unit commendations and service campaign awards. He was also named Instructor Pilot of the Year and Officer of the Year in his squadrons.

Phil Del Real (USN Retired)

Senior Chief Del Real was raised in Chicago, Illinois. He enlisted in the United States Navy on March 1994, attending basic training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Illinois. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Excelsior University. He is also a graduate of the Senior Enlisted Academy at the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island.

Senior Chief Del Real’s duty assignments include USS Copeland (FFG-25), USS Coronado (AGF-11), USS PELELIU (LHA-5) as Division Leading Chief Petty Officer, Riverine Squadron Three as Platoon Commander, Technical training school Instructor at Service School Command, Great Lakes where he qualified Master Training Specialist. He also served as Recruiter in Charge at Navy Recruiting station McAlester, Oklahoma, where he received station of the year honors. And Recruit Training Command Great Lakes Illinois where he served as Division Commander and Fleet Leading Supervisor for over 800 recruits.

Senior Chief Del Real retired after completing 23 years of military service. His personal decorations include Navy Commendation Medal (five awards), Navy Achievement Medal (seven awards), Meritorious Unit Commendation (two awards), Good Conduct Medal (six awards), Volunteer Service Medal, National Defense Medal (two awards), Global War on Terrorist Service and Expeditionary Medals.