Capt. Gary M. Shelley is a native of Wallace, Idaho. He graduated from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University with a Bachelor of Science in Professional Aeronautics in 2004.  He also holds a master’s in Aeronautical Science with a specialization in Aviation/Aerospace Management and is a qualified professional aviation maintenance duty officer.  He reported to Recruit Training Command, San Diego, in November 1988 and began his career as aviation structural mechanic – safety equipment in 1989.  He was selected for chief petty officer in 1999. He was commissioned through the Limited Duty Officer program in 2000. 

His enlisted tours include Sea Control Squadron (VS) 33 and Fighter Squadrons (VF) 124, 101, and 11. He completed five deployments and was selected as the VF-11’s Sailor of the Year in 1998.

His operational tours included serving as the quality assurance officer, material control officer and maintenance material control officer with Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 83.  He also served as assistant maintenance officer with Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 37, where he was selected as the 2008 Commander Strike Fighter Wing Atlantic Maintenance Officer of the Year, and as the Aviation Intermediate Maintenance Department assistant maintenance officer and maintenance material control officer on board USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69).  Shelley completed four deployments to the Mediterranean and Arabian Gulf supporting Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom.

Ashore, he served as avionics assistant division officer, airframes division officer, quality assurance officer and airspeed officer at Aviation Intermediate Maintenance Department Oceana and as assistant maintenance officer with Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 106 before being hand selected to fill a vital position on the Staff of Commander Strike Fighter Wing Atlantic (CSFWL) where he served as assistant maintenance officer and readiness officer.  He has also served as assistant Carrier Strike Group readiness officer and shore readiness officer with COMNAVAIRLANT.  Additionally, he served as the maintenance officer for Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 101.

He assumed duties as executive officer at Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit (CNATTU) Oceana in November 2017. He served as CNATTU Oceana’s commanding officer from June 2019 to December 2020.  He then served at Naval Safety Command from January 2021 until July 2023.  He transferred to Navy Personnel Command in 2024, where he served as the director of enlisted distribution, where he was responsible for the detailing of 283,000 Sailors supporting over 4,000 commands.

He began serving as commanding officer of the Naval Air Technical Training Center in November 2025. 

His personal awards include the Legion of Merit Medal, Meritorious Service Medals (three awards), Navy Commendation Medals (11 awards), three Navy Achievement Medals (three awards), sea service deployment ribbons (nine awards) and numerous unit and campaign awards.
 

Last Updated: 20 November 2025