Captain John F. Davis graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in June, 1943. During World War II, he served aboard the battleship USS NEW YORK (BB-34) after which he entered flight training in January, 1945. Captain Davis received his wings in March, 1946 and in 1948 deployed with Fighter Squadron 74 aboard the carrier USS MIDWAY (CVA-41) to the Mediterranean.

From 1948 until 1950, Captain Davis was a flight instructor at the Advanced Training Command, Corpus Christi, Texas. Continuing his duty as a fighter instructor, he went to Nellis Air Force Base for exchange duty with the Air Force in 1950-51.

He then joined Air Development Squadron Five in 1951 as Project Pilot. Serving in this capacity until 1953, he became Operations Officer for Fighter Squadron 191 making a cruise to the Western Pacific aboard the carrier USS ORISKANY (CVA-34).

After a three-year tour as Project Test Pilot for NATC, Patuxent River, Captain Davis assumed command of Fighter Squadron 174 and in 1958-59 attended the Armed Forces Staff College.

For the next two years, Captain Davis served as Project Officer for the F4 Phantom in the Bureau of Naval Weapons. During this time he established a world's closed-course speed of the free world. From 1961-62 he attended the Industrial College of the Armed Forces.

Following a year tour as Executive Officer aboard the USS CORAL SEA (CVA-43), Captain Davis joined the staff of Commander Naval Air Forces Pacific Fleet as Force Training Officer.

Captain Davis' deep-draft command was the USS TALLADEGA (APA-208). Aboard her he made a Western Pacific deployment to Vietnam. It was during this cruise that Captain Davis participated in Operation Starlight, the first major Marine Corps action against insurgent forces in South Vietnam.

The holder of the Distinguished Flying Cross and Navy Commendation Medal, Captain Davis came to the USS KITTY HAWK (CVA-63) from the Pentagon, where he was Director CNO Flag Plot.

Born in Chicago, Illinois on May 4, 1921, Captain Davis is married to the former Lois Pittman of Winnetka, Illinois. The Davis' have six children -Barbara, 24, John, 22, Hugh, 20, Elizabeth, 13, James, 11, and Robert, 9, and currently reside in Coronado, California.