Commanding Officer
Colonel Patrick Delatte, USMC
Colonel Delatte attended The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina, graduating on 11 May 1985 with a B.A. degree in history and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant of Marines. After completing the Basic School at Quantico, Virginia, he reported to NAS Pensacola, Florida, for pilot training and was designated a Naval Aviator at NAS Whiting Field, Florida, on 11 May 1987. After winging, he was assigned to AH-1J replacement pilot training with HMT-303 at MCAS Camp Pendleton, California.
From November 1987 to July 1993 Col. Delatte was stationed at MCAS New River in Jacksonville, North Carolina. During this period he served with the HML/A-269 “Gunrunners,” the HML/A “Warriors,” and the HMM-162 “Golden Eagles” deploying with HMM-162 to the Mediterranean Sea twice. After a year as a student at the Amphibious Warfare School in Quantico, Virginia, Col. Delatte returned to MCAS New River where he served from May 1994 until May 1998 with the “Gunrunners,” the “Golden Eagles,” and the HMM-264 “Black Knights.” During this period he deployed to the Caribbean and Mediterranean Seas.
From May 1998 until May 2001 Col. Delatte was assigned to NATO Regional HQ Allied Forces, Southern Europe in Naples, Italy. During this period he served as Amphibious Staff Officer, Joint Operations Center Shift Director, and Current Plans Chief in the multinational headquarters where he participated in the planning and execution of NATO operations in the Balkans. From September 2001 until July 2005 Col. Delatte was again stationed at MCAS New River and served with the MAG-29 “War Eagles,” and the “Gunrunners.” During this period he deployed to Iraq twice and served as a Senior Watch Officer in the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing’s Tactical Air Command Center.
From July 2005 until July 2007 Col. Delatte was assigned to Headquarters Marine Corps, Programs and Resources Division at The Pentagon in Washington, D.C. During this period he served for a year as the Assistant Program Development Officer (a.k.a. the “Frog&lrquo;) prior to assuming the duties of Program Development Officer for the Marine Corps (a.k.a. the “Prince of the POM”). From July 2007 until May 2008 Col. Delatte attended the Air War College at Maxwell AFB in Montgomery, Alabama, graduating with academic distinction with a Master of Strategic Studies degree. In June of 2008 Col. Delatte reported aboard as the Commanding Officer and Professor of Naval Science of Naval ROTC Unit, Norwich University.
Colonel Delatte has participated in the following operations: Sharp Edge (Liberia, 1990), Uphold Democracy (Haiti, 1994), Joint Endeavor (Balkans, 1996), Assured Response (Liberia, 1996), Eagle Eye (Kosovo, 1998–1999), Determined Guarantor (Macedonia, 1998–1999), Allied Force (Serbia, 1999), Allied Harbor (Albania, 1999), Joint Guardian (Kosovo, 1999–2001), Iraqi Freedom (Iraq, 2003), and Iraqi Freedom II (Iraq, 2004). Colonel Delatte’s personal decorations include the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Joint Commendation Medal, and the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with gold star. He has accumulated over 3200 hours of flight time in the AH-1W.
Colonel Delatte is married to the former Kimberly Chaney of Arlington, Texas.
