On May 5, 1962, Captain Walter L. Curtis, Jr., USN, became the second Commanding Officer of USS Kitty Hawk (CVA 63). He relieved Captain William F. Bringle, in the first change of command ceremony held aboard this vessle. Captain Curtis wears the Bronze Star with Combat "V." He served in 15 major campaigns and is a survivor of both the USS HORNET and USS PRINCETON during World War II.

Captain Curtis was born July 25, 1915, in Ahoskie, North Carolina. he attended both the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Wake Forest College, being graduated from the latter with a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1936.

A year later Captain Curtis earned his Navy Wings after completing the Naval Aviation Cadet Program at NAS Pensacola, Florida. Subsequently he served in the following assignments: 1937-1940, VS-6, USS ENTERPRISE (CV-6); 1940-1941, Flight Instructor at NAS Pensacola, Fla.; 1941-1942, VS-8, USS HORNET (CV-8); 1943-1944, LSO USS PRINCETON (CVL-23); 1944-1945, LSO Instructor, NAS Sanford, Fla.; 1945-1947, Air Officer, USS PRINCETON (CV-37); 1947-1948, General Line School, Newport, R.I.; 1948-1950, Chief Staff Officer, New York Group, U.S. Atlantic Reserve Fleet; 1950-1952, Commanding Officer, VS-31; 1952-1954, Office of the CNO, Washington, D.C.; 1954-1955, Executive Officer, USS RANDOLPH (CVA-15); 1955-1957, Assistant Operations and Plans Officer, staff COMSIXTHFLEET; 1957-1958, Student, Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Washington, D.C.; 1958-1959, J-3, Joint Chiefs of Staff; 1959-1960, Navy Member of the Chairman's Staff Group, Office of the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff; 1961-1962, Commanding Officer, USS THETIS BAY (LPH-6).