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Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Leader

Honored by:
Kelly Gavlak

CAPT Mike Gavlak is a U. S. Naval Academy Graduate Class of 1960. He was designated a Naval Aviator on September 7, 1961. His initial squadron assignment was Airborne Early Warning Squadron ELEVEN (VW-11) “Flying Clippers,” flying Super Constellation, EC-121K aircraft, on the North Atlantic DEW Line where he became a member of the Barrier Centurion Club. During the Cold War, operating with the Atlantic and Pacific surveillance forces, he flew many versions of the Lockheed P2V and P-3A/B/C aircraft with Patrol Squadrons VP-7 “Black Falcons,” VP-5 “Mad Foxes” and VP-40 “Fighting Marlins.” Between operational tours, Mike spent two years with VT-2 “Doerbirds” as a T-28 formation flight instructor in the Naval Air Training Command. CAPT Gavlak was the Commanding Officer of VP-40 out of Moffett Field, CA during the late 1970’s. He was designated an Aircraft/Mission Commander in many aircraft. During his flying years he had over 5,200 pilot hours and 7,500 aircraft hours.
CAPT Gavlak received an advanced degree at the Naval Postgraduate School in Operation Research. He was a student and taught in the Management Department at the Naval War College and later at the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. He was designated a Weapons Systems Acquisition Manager and was assigned to NAVAIR guiding the early stages of the P-8 aircraft systems development. In 1986 he assumed command of the Naval Coastal Systems Center in Panama City, Florida and in 1990 he retired on the eve of Desert Storm having completed a thirty year Navy career.
After his Navy career CAPT Gavlak served as a member of the Panama City – Bay County International Airport Authority and spent a short period as the interim Airport Director. Later he was twice elected and served eight years on the Bay County School Board retiring in 2002. He now resides in Ashburn, Virginia.