David A. Stull

David joined the Navy in May 1964 and served until August 1988. 

David attended AOCS

His first squadron was HC-2 in Lakehurst, NJ from 1965-1969

During that time he deployed to Vietnam and was on the USS Intrepid, USS Lexington, and USS Saratoga. 

David was then assigned to the Naval Aviation School Command, in Pensacola, FL from 1969-1971.

He then deployed to Vietnam again to HA(L) 3, the Seawolves, from 1971-1972, where he flew 296 combat missions as an Aircraft Commander.

At some point in Vietnam, he was assigned as the Admiral of the 7th Fleet’s pilot. Also, while in HC-2 he conducted a rescue mission and saved a downed pilot in the South China Sea. 

From 1972-1974 David was assigned to the Advanced Flight Training Command in Pensacola, FL. He was a pilot/astronaut instructor, ran the dunker, and was a SEER instructor. He also was an assistant coach for the Navy Goshawks football team. While in Pensacola he was promoted to Lieutenant Commander.

From 1974-1978 he was stationed at HSL-31 in Coronado, CA. He went there as the Maintenance Officer and was then selected to be the Executive Officer of the squadron and shortly thereafter, promoted to Commander. He was also deployed during this time to WestPac on the USS Oklahoma City.

In 1979 David was selected to be the Executive Officer of NAF Misawa, in Misawa, Japan. He was originally supposed to be there for three years, but in the spring of 1980, he was selected for command and returned to Coronado, CA.

From 1980-1982 David was the Commanding Officer of HSL-35. HSL-35 had the best safety record in the fleet under his command. The squadron was awarded the Battle “E” for this accomplishment. 

 1982-1984 he was assigned to COMCRUDESGRU 5. He worked for Admiral James Stockdale and planned readiness exercises.

David was then selected to be the Executive Officer of Naval Air Station North Island from 1984-1986.

David’s final assignment took him back to West Virginia. He was selected to be the Commanding Officer of Naval Reserve Center, Charleston, WV from 1986-1988.

David Stull was an honorable man, who ALWAYS did the right thing. He was a good husband, father and son. He was a Christian and always followed his faith when making decisions. Numerous people, going all the way back to his junior officer days in HA(L) 3 have said that he was an outstanding leader and cultivated younger officers. Many of them thank him for them becoming the leaders they eventually became.