CDR Christopher D. Sedlak

Past Executive Officer, Tactical Air Control Squadron (TACRON) 12

16 November 2023 CDR Sedlak is a native of Bel Air, Md and graduated from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) in 2007 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management focused on Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Technology, along with a minor in Leadership Studies. Upon graduation he accepted a Commission in the United States Navy, was selected for Naval Aviation, and completed flight training in April 2008. After earning his Wings of Gold he received orders to train in and operate the MH-53E Sea Dragon.
 

His at-sea assignments for Junior Officer and Department Head were both held at HELICOPTER MINE COUNTERMEASURES SQUADRON FOURTEEN (HM-14) in Norfolk, Va, where he qualified as a Mine Warfare/Airborne Mine Counter-Measures Mission (MIW/AMCM) Commander and flew missions in support of OPERATION UNIFIED RESPONSE and OPERATION TOMODACHI, as well as multiple Joint Exercises. During those tours he deployed multiple times to the Republic of Korea and held various leadership roles including Officer in Charge of FDNF DET-2A Korea, Maintenance Officer, and Training Officer.

For his disassociated sea tour he was selected for duty as Assistant Navigator (ANAV) aboard USS GEORGE H. W. BUSH (CVN-77). There he directly oversaw the safe navigation of over 75,000 nautical miles during the GHWB 2017 deployment supporting OPERATION INHERENT RESOLVE with Carrier Strike Group TWO (CSG-2) and received the 2017 Commander Naval Air Forces (CNAF) Shiphandler of the Year Award.

His first shore assignment was with HELICOPTER SEA COMBAT SQUADRON TWO (HSC-2) in Norfolk, Va where he served as an Instructor Pilot and lead developer of the initial MH-60S MIW tactical employment doctrine and AMCM curriculum. While there he earned an Executive Master of Business Administration with honors from the Naval Postgraduate School.

Most recently CDR Sedlak served as Speech Writer for the Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command in Norfolk, Va. There he acted as a trusted advisor for two distinguished Commanders; directly responsible for translating and crafting the Commander’s vision and strategic goals to a myriad of audiences while ensuring alignment with higher echelon guiding documents, strategy, and messaging.

Commander Sedlak’s personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corp Commendation Medal (four awards), Navy and Marine Corp Achievement Medal (three awards), Humanitarian Service Medal (two awards), and multiple unit and service awards.