David “Raider” Roark enlisted in the Navy in 1958. After a tour as an Aviation Structural Mechanic, he was accepted as a Naval Aviation Cadet reporting to NAS Pensacola, Florida in 1960. Dave was commissioned an Ensign and received his Wings of Gold in June 1962. From 1962 to 1967, he piloted Airborne Early Warning Squadron Thirteen EC-121s in at NAS Argentia, New Foundland, Canada, followed by Anti-submarine Squadron Thirty Eight S-2 Trackers onboard the USS Bennington (CV 20) with two Southeast Asia combat deployments. From 1967 to 1970, Dave instructed student aviators in Training Squadron Five T-28 Trojans followed by Training Squadron Four T-2 Buckeyes. In 1970, he qualified in the A-7 Corsair II at NAS Cecil Field, Jacksonville, Florida, was assigned to Light Attack Squadron Sixty Six and deployed to the Mediterranean Sea onboard US Independence (CV-62). Upon his return to NAS Cecil, he was assigned to Light Attack Squadron 174 and served as Maintenance Officer, Operations Officer and Executive Officer for now Senator John S. McCain.
Selected for command in 1977, Dave was Commanding Officer Training Squadron Seven at NAS Meridian, Mississippi flying the TA-4 Skyhawk. He was next assigned as Air Officer (Air Boss) onboard USS Lexington (CV-16). His final Navy assignment was Chief Staff Officer Training Air Wing Six (CTW-6) at NAS Pensacola. He retired from the Navy in October 1985.
Dave immediately went to work as Lockheed Support Systems T-39D Site Manager and Chief Pilot for the Undergraduate Naval Flight Officer Training Program. He continued as T-47 and T-39N Pilot as the program transitioned through other aircraft and contractors.
Dave accumulated over 15,400 hours flying various jet and propeller-driven fixed wing aircraft with 6,800 hours in the T-39. His Navy decorations included 2 Air Medals, 2 Meritorious Service Medals, Vietnam Service Medal with 2 stars, National Defense Service Medal and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.
Tragically, Dave “Raider” Roark died in an air aircraft accident while on a training flight over Georgia on 10 January 2006.