Rear Admiral John "Chris" Sadler

In August 2012, Rear Adm. Sadler assumed duties as director, Maritime Partnership Program, U.S. Naval Forces Europe/Africa, and vice commander, U.S. 6th Fleet. A native of Pittsburgh, he graduated from the University of South Carolina in 1982 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering (cum laude), became a member of Phi Beta Kappa honor society and earned his commission through the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps.

Sadler earned honors in all phases of flight training and reported in June 1985 to the Black Aces of� Fighter Squadron 41 aboard USS Nimitz (CVN 68) flying the F-14A Tomcat. He became a wing-qualified landing signal officer and graduated from the Naval Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN). He then reported to the Challengers of Fighter Squadron 43 at Naval Air Station (NAS) Oceana, Va., as an adversary pilot flying the A-4/F-5 and teaching overland strike support.

Sadler transitioned to the Reserve component in September 1990 with the Hunters of Fighter Squadron 201 at NAS Dallas, flying the F-14A Tomcat. He deployed with Air Wing Five as an adversary pilot and Fighter Squadron 211 aboard Nimitz for Exercise Surgex. He was selected as the 1996 Air Wing Reserve 20 Junior Officer of the Year.

Sadler assumed command of Strike Fighter Squadron 201 in July 1999, leading the squadron through its transition to the F/A-18A Hornet while earning two consecutive Air Wing 20 Retention Excellence Awards and the Naval Air Force Reserve nomination for the Phoenix Award in 2000, recognizing maintenance excellence.

Sadler’s other command tours include commander, Fleet Air Western Pacific 0170, where his unit earned the Captain Barto Award as the best small augment unit in the Naval Air Reserve Force; chief of Naval Air Training Reserve Component Command; 6th Fleet Detachment 802; deputy Reserve component commander, Navy Region Southeast; and commander, Naval Air Force Reserve/deputy commander, Naval Air Forces. Non-command tours include Carrier Strike Group 0570; 7th Fleet Detachment 111; and, chief of staff for Commander, Navy Region Midwest at Naval Station Great Lakes, Ill.

Sadler has flown almost 3,000 hours in tactical aircraft and accumulated 388 carrier landings. He is a graduate of Air Command and Staff College and Joint Forces Staff College. Personal decorations include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, and Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.