Chief of Staff
Colonel Patrick Delatte
Colonel Delatte attended The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina, graduating on 11 May 1985 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant of Marines. He was designated a Naval Aviator on 11 May 1987, and was assigned to AH-1J replacement pilot training.
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 attending 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 Headquarters 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 as the 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. From June of 2008 until July 2011 Col Delatte served as the Commanding Officer of the Naval ROTC Unit, Professor of Naval Science, and Dean of National Services at Norwich University. In July 2011 Col Delatte reported to the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing on Okinawa, Japan where he is currently serving as the Chief of Staff.
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). He has accumulated over 3200 hours of flight time in the AH-1W.