Keynote Speaker - 2024
Admiral (Ret.) Patrick M. Walsh
The 77th Annual Reunion will be held at Atrium Hotel & Suites, Dallas Fort Worth Airport South (DFW), September 18–22, 2024
Admiral (Ret.) Walsh was the 59th Vice Chief of Naval Operations, served as a member of the Joint Requirements Oversight Council, and provided testimony to the House Armed Services Committee, Senate Armed Services Committee, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and the Seapower Subcommittee on matters related to the Readiness, Manpower, and Acquisition accounts for the Department of the Navy.
He held significant leadership positions over the course of a 34-year career as a carrier-based, combat fighter pilot and former Slot Pilot for the Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels, to include Chairman, Department of Leadership, Ethics & Law at the U.S. Naval Academy, and command of Strike/Fighter Squadron ONE ZERO FIVE, Carrier Air Wing ONE, Carrier Strike Group SEVEN, NAVCENT/US FIFTH Fleet and finally as Commander, US Pacific Fleet , responsible for the largest naval force in the world where he led the US military response to the Great Eastern Japan Earthquake, tsunami, and radiation triple catastrophes.
He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the US Naval Academy, a Master of Arts in Law & Diplomacy, a Doctor of Philosophy (with Distinction) in International Relations from the Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy, Tufts University, and was a White House Fellow assigned to the Executive Office of the President in the Office of Management & Budget. Pat is a Senior Advisor to Oliver Wyman, Inc., Director and Chairman of the Technology Committee for Austin Industries, an Outside Director for CAE, USA, Inc., the Chairman of the Dallas Committee on Foreign Relations, and a Senior Fellow at Southern Methodist University.
Pat currently serves as President of the Cristo Rey Dallas parochial high school.
The Cristo Rey Dallas Board of Directors appointed Dr. Patrick Walsh the third President of Cristo Rey Dallas in April 2022. He was a member of a small team that established the foundation for the school opening in 2015, as the 29th school in the Cristo Rey Network.
Patrick Walsh co-founded The First Watch Group, s a consultant in partnership with former business leaders in the Aerospace & Defense industry who have deep experience leading P&Ls that range from Small Businesses to Original Equipment Manufacturers, focused on leadership development, business growth, and team performance in the supply chain, logistics, and large-scale program management. Prior to co-founding The First Watch Group, Pat was Vice President of The Boeing Company, (NYSE: BA), Global Services Navy-Marine Corps Services business. Prior to Boeing, Pat was the Senior Vice President/General Manager at iSIGHT Partners, a FireEye Company, (NASDAQ: FEYE), and President, Strategic Programs, Academic Partnerships, LLC.
https://cristoreydallas.org/about/leadership/