The USS Midway and Its Role in Operation Frequent Wind
Captain Bradt was graduated from Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Science Business Administration in 1965. He went on to be commissioned an Ensign at Officer Candidate School in 1966, and was designated a Naval Aviator in the following year. During his career, he accumulated 862 aircraft carrier arrested landings, and flew the A-4, A-7, EA-6, F-14, and F/A-18.
Captain Bradt served in the Vietnam Campaign from 1969-1970 with 110 combat missions. Following his tour in Vietnam, he returned to school and graduated from U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in 1971 with a Master of Science Personnel Management.
He served a number of staff tours including Communications Officer, Commander Fleet Air Wing 3; Company Officer, U.S. Naval Academy; Air Officer, USS Independence (CVA-62); Senior Officer Topgun Course, NAS Miramar; Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations, Battle Force Seventh Fleet/Commander Joint Task Force Middle East; Force Readiness Officer, Commander Naval Air Forces Pacific Fleet; and Director of Education, Chief of Naval Education and Training. He also completed four successful command tours which included Light Attack Squadron 83 (A-7), Carrier Air Wing 30 (F-14, F/A-18, A-7, A-3, A -6, EA-6, E-2C); USS New Orleans (LPH-11), and USS Belleau Wood (LHA-3).
Captain Bradt retired from Naval service in 1994, and went on to become the Director of Aviation Maintenance for DynCorp at, Johnson Space Center, TX, the DynCorp Command Staff Advisor to the Commander, Kuwait Air Force, and Vice President Business Development, DynCorp International Dubai, UAE.
Today, Captain Bradt volunteers as a Docent aboard USS Midway Museum in San Diego. As a former Naval Aviator who spent many flight hours at NAF El Centro for training during his career, he is looking forward to returning to El Centro.