Ed Turner

After graduating from the US Naval Academy in 1981, Ed completed 30 years of Naval service achieving the rank of Captain.  During his career as a Naval Flight Officer, he flew over 4000 flight hours in five different S-3 Viking squadrons, making 5 overseas deployments, including a combat deployment aboard the USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT in support of Operations DESERT STORM and PROVIDE COMFORT.  He had command of two squadrons; one aircraft carrier based operational squadron, VS-30 “Diamondcutters”, and the S-3 Fleet Replacement Squadron, VS-41 “Shamrocks”.  Other assignments included Flag Secretary for Strike Fighter Wings Atlantic, Senior Operations Officer and Assistant Deputy Director in the Pentagon’s National Military Command Center (NMCC), the Director of Current Operations and Deputy Director for Operations (J-3) for the US Southern Command, and was Navigator of the aircraft carrier, USS NIMITZ. 

CAPT Turner also served as the Executive Assistant and Chief of Staff for the Naval Education and Training Command (NETC), a command of 11,000, responsible for the US Navy’s accession through master level training and education programs.  His final assignment in the Navy was as the Commanding Officer of Naval Education and Training Security Assistance Field Activity (NETSAFA), responsible for the coordination and management of all the Department of the Navy’s global Security Cooperation training programs.

During his career he also earned a Master’s Degree from the Naval Command and Staff College in National Security and Strategic Studies.  After retiring from the Navy in 2011, Ed served as Vice President of Logistic Services International, Inc (LSI) in Jacksonville, Florida.  At LSI, he was responsible for the international training and training services programs providing contractor support and military training development for DoD and under Foreign Military Sales (FMS) agreements.  Ed retired from LSI in 2020.  

Ed also serves  on the Board of Directors for the Viking Association, and is a member of the Association of Naval Aviators, the US Naval Academy Alumni Association, and the Jacsonville Navy League.   He and his wife, Linda, reside in Fleming Island, Florida and have three grown children, Tripp, Lindsay, and Mallory, and granddaughter Lilly.