Captain Tony Chavez, a native of San Antonio, Texas, enlisted in the Navy in 1990 as a Sailor in nuclear power submarines. He was later awarded a Navy ROTC Scholarship and commissioned as an ensign upon graduation from Louisiana State University with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering with honors. He is a graduate of the Naval Post Graduate School with a Master’s in Business Administration and a graduate of Naval War College, JPME Phase I/II.
At sea, his career as a naval aviator includes assignments with Helicopter Anti-submarine Squadron Light (HSL) 43, where he made two deployments aboard USS Rodney M. Davis (FFG 60) and USS Thach (FFG 43) in support of Counter Drug Operations and Operations Teamwork South, Southern Watch, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom; with Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 73 as a detachment officer in charge where he deployed aboard USS Lake Erie (CG 70) in support of Ballistic Missile Defense and Counter Drug Operations; as commanding officer of HSM 37; and as executive and commanding officer of USS Makin Island (LHD 8).
He volunteered for two separate individual augmentation deployments where he deployed to two different hostile zones in support of Military Group Colombia, South America and Joint Task Forces, Afghanistan.
Ashore, he served as an instructor pilot and quality assurance officer at HSM 41; as aide-de-camp to Commander, Middle Pacific/Navy Region Hawaii; as joint mission planner in MILGRP Colombia, South America; as a joint planner at Joint Information Operations Warfare Center, Lackland AFB, San Antonio; again as an instructor pilot and executive officer at HSM 41 flight training squadron; and as air operations officer at Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet. He was a 2018 Federal Executive Fellow, executing an international security fellowship, at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs.
Captain Chavez reported to Commander, U.S. Third Fleet in June 2023 and assumed duties as chief of staff.
He has accumulated more than 2,400 flight hours. His personal awards include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal (three awards), Air Medal (First Strike), Joint Commendation Medal (three awards), Navy Commendation Medal (five awards), Navy Achievement Medal, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, and various campaign and sea service awards.