Captain F. Lee Tillotson is a native of Ketchikan, Alaska. He attended the United States Naval Academy and was commissioned an Ensign in June 1963.

Captain Tillotson was designated a Naval Aviator on 6 January 1965. Upon completion of replacement pilot training in the F-4B, he reported to the VF-102 "Diamondbacks," NAS Oceana, Virginia, where he deployed to the Sixth Fleet aboard USS AMERICA (CV-66). He was assigned in 1966 as a combat replacement pilot for the VF-213 "Black Lions," and completed to Southeast Asia aboard USS KITTY HAWK (CV-63).

In July 1968, Captain Tillotson was selected to attend the U.S. Navy Test Pilot School and upon graduation was assigned to Carrier Suitability Branch, Flight Test Division, Naval Air Test Center. He recorded numerous "firsts" in carrier aircraft development culminated by the initial arrestments and minimum end-speed catapult launches of the EA-6B.

In February 1974, he began training as an instructor pilot in the F-14 aircraft with VF-124 and subsequently served as Operations Officer and Executive Officer of the F-14 "MUTHA" Squadron. Captain Tillotson then reported as Executive Officer/ Commanding Officer of the FITRON Fifty-One "Screaming Eagles" and again deployed on KITTY HAWK to the Seventh Fleet. In August 1981 Captain Tillotson assumed command of Carrier Air Wing Eleven on board America while deployed to the Seventh Fleet. In December 1982, he reported to the Chief of Naval Operations as the F-14 Program Coordinator. He was elected in 1983 to the Board of Control and Editorial Board of the U.S. Naval Institute and a member of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots. Captain Tillotson commanded USS ST. LOUIS (LKA-116) home-ported in Sasebo, Japan, from August 1985 to January 1987. He assumed command of USS KITTY HAWK on 21 February 1987.

During his career, Captain Tillotson has been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Meritorious Service Medal, three individual Air Medals, 23 Strike/Flight Air Medals, five Navy Commendation Medals, the Presidential Unit Citation, the Navy Unit Commendation Medal, the South Vietnamese Honor Medal and Cross of Gallantry, and campaign service medals for the Vietnam conflict.