Captain Almer “Al” Vold, USN

Captain Almer "Al" Charles Vold, US Navy (Ret), 23 June 1936 - 16 September 2021. Al was born in Lisbon, North Dakota, and attended Concordia College, Moorhead, Minnesota from 1954-1956 where he was studying to become a Lutheran Minister. Upon observing a Navy Blue Angels air show, he chose to enter the Naval Aviation Cadet program where he earned his commission in December 1957 and received his "Wings of Gold" as NAS Kingsville, TX in June 1958. He flew the S2 "Tracker" during his initial operational tour with VS-21 located at NAS North Island, CA. In March 1960 he reported as "Plank Owner" to commission VS-29 and made two deployments to the Western Pacific aboard USS KEARSARGE. Following this he served as Aviation Safety Officer and as an instructor pilot with VS-41, an Air Anti-Submarine Readiness replacement training squadron.

In July 1965 he reported on board USS YORKTOWN and assumed the duties of Assistant Navigator. Home ported in Long Beach, California he again made two deployments to the Western Pacific. He was aboard when the Pueblo Incident diverted the carrier to the Korean Straits. After transitioning to the A-4 "Skyhawk" with VA-44 at NAS Cecil Field, Florida, Al joined VA-15 in September 1968 aboard USS FORRESTAL deployed in the Mediterranean. He served as Administrative Officer and then as Operations Officer.

In June 1969 he saw duty with VA-216 at Alameda, California where he served as Operations Officer and later as Executive Officer while flying from the USS FORRESTAL. In July 1970, Al continued his education at the Naval Post Graduate School, Monterey, CA earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations. After graduation he reported to VA-125 and assumed the duties of Executive Officer in October, 1972 flying the A-7 A/B "Corsair II". In March 1974, Al reported to VA-127 for readiness pilot training in the A-4F "Skyhawk". Al assumed Command of VA-55 "Warhorses" in May 1974 and deployed aboard the USS Hancock for "Hanna's" final cruise March-October 1975. In December of 1975 he decommissioned the proud "Warhorses", the last of the Navy's A-4F "Skyhawks".

Al reported aboard the USS KITTY HAWK in January 1976 as the Air Operations officer and later became the Operations Officer where he served until summer of 1978.

From 1978-1981, Al was assigned to Naval Air Station, North Island, CA where he served on COMNAVAIRPAC Staff in various assignments to include Shore Activities Management Officer, Assistant Force Operations Officer and the Force Operations Officer. From 1982-1986, Al was assigned to the staff of CINCPACFLT at Pearl Harbor, HI where he served as Fleet Logistics Plans officer until he retired from the Navy with 29 years and 9 months of service to the Nation.

Al earned a master’s degree from National University and following his retirement from the Navy, served 20 years as a civilian Program Manager supporting DoD and NAVAIR activities responsible for program/financial controls and management procedures of multi-functional teams, administering major ILS and aircraft maintenance programs for F/A-18, AV-8, SH-60, H-53 and E-2C managers.