Captain Lawrence R. Slade
United States Navy

Captain Slade graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology with a BS in Aerospace Engineering in 1985. He received his commission through the NROTC program, subsequently attended Navy Flight School in Pensacola, Florida and received his wings in April 1987.

After completing F-14 training as a Radar Intercept Officer (RIO) at VF-101 in Virginia Beach, Virginia, he reported to VF-103 onboard USS Saratoga.  Captain Slade completed his first deployment aboard USS INDEPENDENCE, was selected to attend TOPGUN in 1988, and deployed again on USS SARATOGA in support of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.

On January 21, 1991, during a strike against Iraq, Captain Slade was shot down, captured by Iraqi forces, and remained a prisoner of war until his release in March. In July he reported to Air Test and Evaluation Squadron Four (VX-4), Pt. Mugu, California, returning to NAS Oceana and back to VF-103 in 1993 after two years as an Operational Test Director.  On his second sea tour Captain Slade completed another combat deployment to the Mediterranean and Bosnian theater.

Upon returning from deployment Captain Slade spearheaded the Fleet Demonstration of the Low Altitude Navigation, Infrared at Night (LANTIRN) Targeting System.  In July 1995 he reported to Commander, Fighter Wing Atlantic to continue the management of the LANTIRN program. For his efforts on this project he was awarded the 1995 Radar Intercept Officer of the Year award and the 1995 Naval Flight Officer of the Year award.

In September of 1996 he reported to the "Diamondbacks" of VF-102 as a Department Head and completed a fourth deployment to the Arabian Gulf in support of Operation Southern Watch onboard USS GEORGE WASHINGTON.  Captain Slade was subsequently selected for the Navy Legislative Fellowship Program and was assigned to Senator McCain's office in Washington D.C.

After his one-year tour as a Military Fellow, Captain Slade reported to the Joint Task Force - Computer Network Operations (JTF-CNO) in January 2000. He served as the Chief of the Joint Operations Center while simultaneously earning his Masters of Science in Computer Science from James Madison University.  In 2002 Captain Slade reported to the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), FT Bragg, NC in support of counter terrorism operations.

In January 2003 Captain Slade reported to the Naval Network Warfare Command in Little Creek, Virginia.  During this tour he was designated an Information Professional and was subsequently assigned as the Chief Staff Officer, Naval Computer and Telecommunications Master Station Atlantic in March 2004.  Captain Slade was assigned to his current billet as Director, Communications and Information Systems, Second Fleet in October 2005.

Captain Slade is a strike fighter mission commander with over 2400 flight hours and 470 carrier arrested landings. His military awards include the Distinguished Flying Cross (with Combat V), Purple Heart (two awards), Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), Air Medal (two awards), Navy Commendation Medal (three awards), Navy Achievement Medal, Prisoner of War Medal, and several campaign and unit awards.

Captain Slade is married to the former Anna Koufos of Ponce, Puerto Rico.  They have two daughters, Hyland Luisa (9) and Sophia Domenica (5).