James H. Aldrich, Jr:
CLASS OF 1963
Groveton High SchoolClass of 1963
Alexandria, VA
U.S. Naval AcademyClass of 1967
Annapolis, MD
James H.'s Story
Life
Graduated from Groveton HS in June '63, and went into the US Naval Academy. After graduation and commissioning in US Navy in '67, served aboard a guided missile destroyer, USS SELLERS (DDG-11), and then entered flight training. Flew F-14 Tomcats for many years, and also earned Masters degree in Aero Engineering (Avionics). Later had assignments in the "business part" of Naval aviation, which included procurement of new aircraft and also working in facilities which overhauled Naval aircraft. Final assignment in the Navy was Force Material Officer for Pacific Fleet Air Force, responsible for engineering and maintenance for all Navy & Marine aircraft in the Pacific. After 30 years, retired and took a position as Vice President of Engineering for Dassault Falcon Jet Corporation, working at their plant in Little Rock, Arkansas. Retired from Falcon Jet and moved to Tampa, Florida in late 2003. Married to Loretta; three grown children are Hunter, Meghan, and Griff.
School
Groveton High School 1963
Alexandria, VA HS degree
US Naval Academy 1967
Annapolis, MD BS
US Naval Postgraduate School 1979
Monterey, CA MsAE
Military
Born in Savannah, Georgia, Jim Aldrich grew up in a Navy family. He graduated from Groveton High School in Alexandria, Virginia and entered the U.S. Naval Academy in June of 1963. He graduated from Annapolis in 1967, and initially served as a surface line officer aboard the USS Sellers, a guided missile destroyer.
He then entered flight training and became a fighter pilot, serving in several fighter squadrons on both east and west coasts. He was part of the F-14 Tomcat fleet introduction, serving in Fighter Squad...Expand for more
ron 32 aboard USS John F. Kennedy. He was given the callsign "Woody".
After earning a Master's degree in aeronautical engineering, Jim became an Aerospace Engineering Duty Officer. As such, he has served as the Senior Member of the F-14 Fleet Project Team, maintenance staff duty with Commander, Fleet Air Mediterranean, Production Officer at the Naval Aviation Depot, Norfolk, VA, and aviation depot staff duty with Commander, Naval Air Systems Command in Washington, DC.
Jim attained the rank of Captain in the Navy, after which he became Commanding Officer of the Naval Plant Representative Office in Bethpage, NY in July, 1989. He transferred the command to the Defense Logistics Agency in June 1990 as the Defense Plant Representative Office, Grumman Corporation. He reported to the Naval Aviation Depot, Alameda as Executive Officer in September 1992, and assumed command of the depot in January 1993. Captain Aldrich became the Assistant Chief of Staff, Aviation Maintenance and Material for Commander Naval Air Force, US Pacific Fleet in June, 1994.
His personal awards include the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with gold star, and various service awards. He has accumulated over 2000 flight hours in all models of the F-14 Tomcat and A-6E Intruder.
After retirement from the Navy, Jim became Vice President of Engineering for Dassault Falcon Jet Corporation, building Falcon business jets. In additon, he flew the Falcon 900 aircraft on occasion. In 2004, Jim retired to Tampa, Florida.
Jim and his wife, Loretta, live in Tampa. Jim's three children are Hunter, Meghan, and Griff, all married; he has 3 grandchildren.
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