Maj
Dan Walczak has served our Chapter in leadership positions for more than a dozen
years. He’s been both 1st and 2nd Vice President and
currently serves as our Treasurer where he pays our bills, maintains our Chapter
roster and keeps track of dues and scholarship donations. Dan was born on 13
January 1945 in Newark, NJ. After graduating from Kearny High School in 1962 he
attended Newark College of Engineering.
Dan enlisted in the Marines in July of 1965. After completing Boot Camp at
Parris Island, SC he was meritoriously promoted to PFC. He completed infantry
training at Camp Geiger, NC and Air Traffic Control “A” school at NAS Glynco, GA
and was assigned to Cherry Point for duty. He became certified as a full
performance level controller and facility watch supervisor (FWS). While at
Cherry Point, he was promoted to LCpl, Cpl and Sgt. He met Deborah Lynn
Willis
chapel.
In September 1968, he was assigned to Marine Air Traffic Control Unit 68
(MATCU-68) in Vietnam where the photo at the right was taken. He was promoted to
SSgt in 1969 and reenlisted for six more years before returning to Cherry Point.
In February 1971, Dan attended the first
Staff NCO Academy class at Quantico, VA. In July of that year, he and Debbie
began a 3 year accompanied tour to MCAS Iwakuni, Japan where he served as the
Training Chief and FAA Examiner. He was promoted to GySgt in December, 1973. In
1974, the Walczaks returned to eastern NC where he was assigned to MATCU-67 at
MCALF Bogue Field.
In 1975, Dan was selected for the Warrant Officer program, attended the Warrant
Officer
Candidate Course in January 1976 and was appointed a Warrant Officer on 20
February of that year. Following completion of the Warrant Officer Basic Course
at Quantico in June of 1976, he was transferred back to Iwakuni for duty as the
Assistant ATC Facility Officer. He returned to Cherry Point in July of 1977 and
served as the ATC Facility Operations Officer. In June 1979, Dan was selected
for the Limited Duty Officer program and was promoted to 1stLt. In July 1981, he
reported to MCAS Quantico as the ATC Facility Officer and was promoted to Capt
in July 1982.
In April 1984, Capt Walczak was transferred to Marine Air Traffic Control
Squadron 28 (MATCS-28) at MCAS New River where he served as a Detachment OIC and
Test and Evaluation Director for the new Marine Air Traffic Control and Landing
System MATCALS.
In
July of 1986, Dan received another overseas assignment to Okinawa where he
served on the staffs of both 1stMAW and Marine Air Control Group 18 (MACG-18)
and was promoted to Major. In July 1987, Maj Walczak returned to Quantico where
he served as the Airfield Operations Officer until his transfer to Headquarters
Marine Corps in 1989. There he was the Marine Corps representative to the
Military Operations Branch at FAA HQ until his retirement from active service in
August 1990. Dan’s personal decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service
Medal, Navy/ Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Combat “V” and one gold star
and the Good Conduct Medal with two stars.
After retiring from the Marine Corps, Dan joined the FAA and was assigned to FAA
HQ as a Military Operations Specialist. In August 1995, he transferred to his
present assignment as the FAA Eastern Service Center Air Traffic Representative
for MCAS Cherry Point, MCAS New River and Seymour Johnson AFB in NC, MCAS
Beaufort and Shaw AFB in SC and MCAF Quantico in VA. Maj Walczak has served as
the National 1st and 2d Vice President of the Marine Air Traffic Control
Association (MATCA) and is a member of the Taberna Country Club. He enjoys golf,
hunting in PA and working out. He and Debbie lived in Havelock for 14 years
prior to moving into their new home in Taberna last summer. They attend Catholic
services
at the base chapel at Cherry Point where they were married 43 years ago. Dan and
Debbie have two grown sons living in VA and six grandchildren.