Captain Jack C. Presley USN
A
1979 BIOS

Captain Jack Cole Presley was born in Peru, Nebraska on 26 August 1935. He entered the Naval Air Training Command at Pensacola as an Aviation Cadet in March 1955 and was designated a naval aviator on 22 August 1956.

Captain Presley's first assignment was with Fighter Squadron FIFTY-TW0 at NAS Alameda, California, deploying aboard USS BENNINGTON and USS TICONDEROGA. Upon completion of his tour with VF-52, he was transfered to Fighter Squadron ONE TWO ONE, NAS Miramar, California, in March 1959, where he was Communications Officer and an Instrument Flight Instructor. In February 1960 the Instrument Unit was transfered to Attack Squadron ONE TWO SIX, NAS, Miramar, California, where he served as an Instrument Flight & Ground School Instructor.
.........................................................................

Upon completion of his tour with VA-126, Captain Presley attended Naval Postgraduate School from March 1961 until receiving a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1963. From April 1963 to August 1963 he was attached to Squadron FORTY-THREE, NAS Oceana, Virginia, as a replacement pilot. In September 1963, Captain Presley was transfered to Attack Squadron SIXTY-FOUR and deployed aboard USS ENTERPRISE to the Mediterranean and participated in Operations "Sea Orbit", the around the world cruise of a Nuclear Task Group. He was Maintenance Control Officer, Admin Officer, and NATOPS/Training Officer while attached to VA-64 where he flew the A-4C aircraft. In August 1965 he was transfered to COMSEVENTHFLT Detachment C, Saigon, as Assistant Air Operations Officer. After a year with Det C, he went to the U.S.Naval Test Pilot School in September 1966 as a student. After completing Test Pilot School in June 1967, he was transfered to Test Flight Division, Naval Air Test Center, Patuxent River, Maryland, as Flying Qualities and Performance Assistent Branch Head and project pilot. In September 1969 he was assigned as the first exchange tutor at the Empire Test Pilots School, Boscombe Down, England, where he flew 16 diferent types of aircraft. From Janurary 1971 to June 1972 he was attached to Attack Squadron ONE TWO EIGHT, Whidbey Island, Washington, as a replacement pilot and an Instructor Pilot in A-6A aircraft. From VA-128, Captain Presley was trasferred to Attack Squadron ONE ONE FIVE as Executive Officer and then Commanding Officer flying the A-6 aboard USS MIDWAY. From July 1974 to December 1975 he was with the Naval Air Systems Command, Washington, D.C., as Assistant Project Manager for the A-6 aircraft. From Washington D.C. he assumed command of  Air Wing ONE on 20 August 1976 and deployed aboard USS JOHN F. KENNEDY to the North Atlantic and the Mediterranean. He returned to Naval Air Systems Command in October 1977 where he served as Branch Head for Carrier Aircraft in the Material Acquistion Group. Captain Presley was commanded USS KAWISHIWI (AO-146) since 10 April 1979. - (Note: till 10 October 1979 when KAWISHIWI was DECOMMISSIONED)

Captain Presley has amassed over 4600 flight hours in 55 types of aircraft and is credited with 667 carrier landings, and over 100 combat missions. His decorations include two Disinguished Flying Crosses, four Individual Action Air Medals, nine Strike Flight Medals, two Navy Commendation Medals, the Bronze Star medal, Presidential Unit Citation, National Defense, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam Service, and Vietnam Cross with Palm.

Captain Presley is married to the former Wilda J. Schneider of Yakima, Washington. Captain and Mrs. Presley have three children, Daryl (20), Blane (18) and Kimberly (14), residing at 1B Kamakani Place, Honolulu, Hawaii.