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Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Sponsor

Honored by:
Ms. Victoria J. Gaffney

Captain Gaffney has over 30 years of flight experience including over 16,000 hours of military and civilian flight time. He is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy (1966) and the Naval War College (1989 "With Distinction").

He began flight training in July 1966 and was designated a Naval Aviator in February 1968. He reported to the VF-124 where he transitioned to the F-8 Crusader and the F-4 Phantom II. From August 1968 until December 1969, he served with VC-10 at NAS Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Upon completion of this tour, he reported to VRF-31 at NAS Norfolk where he was qualified to fly five different high-performance jet and propeller-driven aircraft.

Released from active duty in 1971, Captain Gaffney was affiliated with VS-72 at NAS Norfolk. In 1972, he began commercially flying with Eastern Airlines. He gained extensive experience in flying throughout the Western Hemisphere and totaled over 12,000 civilian flight hours by the time he left the airline in 1989. In 1972, he joined the Patrol Squadron Sixty Eight of the U.S. Naval Reserves. Due to his extensive experience with the Lockheed Electra, he rapidly transitioned to the P-3 community. He served as Airframe/Power Plants, Avionics, and Line Division Officer in earlier assignments. He also served as a Maintenance Officer managing all aspects of maintenance for nine highly technically configured ASW aircraft. His flight qualifications included Plane Commander, ASW Mission Commander, Flight Instructor, and Test Pilot with total military flight time exceeding 4,500 hours. Over a period of ten years, Captain Gaffney progressed through various Division Officer and Department Head positions to Executive Officer and finally to Commanding Officer in 1982. He holds the distinction of becoming the first P-3 skipper to attain that position without prior active duty VP experience. During his tenure, he led his 450-man unit to capture the CNO Safety Award (twice), the TOP Bloodhound Award (for ASW excellence), and the NOEL Davis "Battle E" Trophy (best of 13 competing squadrons).

In 1984, Captain Gaffney joined NR DCNO 106, a reserve component of the OPNAV Staff in the Pentagon. He was selected as Commanding Officer just as the unit was mobilized for Operation Desert Storm. He was tasked with standing up and running the Navy Crisis Action Center for Logistics. His team of 40 reservists worked critical issues and action items around the clock while also providing daily briefings to the Secretary of the Navy and the Chief of Naval Operations. In recognition of its outstanding achievements, his unit was nominated for the Meritorious Unit Commendation. Captain Gaffney was personally awarded the Legion of Merit for achievements while mobilized.

Captain Gaffney was next selected to command the NR N80 106, a unit that supports the OPNAV Programs Division. During this tour, he authored and coordinated the publishing of the 1994 edition of FORCE 2001: A Program Guide to the U.S. Navy, an annual publication that conveys the Navy's viewpoint on key programmatic and budgetary issues to the SECDEF Staff and Congress. Captain Gaffney served his final tour as Executive Officer of NR DCNO N3/N5 106 in support of the OPNAV Director of Operations and Plans. He retired in 1996 after completing over 30 years of commissioned service.

Captain Gaffney's personal awards include the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal (three awards), the Navy Commendation Medal (three awards), and the Command at Sea Emblem.