Paul Richard Gardella, Jr. CDR, USN (Ret)

Paul was born in Vineland, NJ on June 19, 1956. In 1978, he graduated Magna Cum Laude from Villanova University with a BS in Business Administration and served as the Battalion Commander for the Navy ROTC. He was an enthusiastic member of the Rifle Team, where he met his wife, Joyce. Upon graduation, he was commissioned in the United States Navy where he led a distinguished career as a Surface Warfare Officer and Intelligence Officer. Paul received his MS in Information Systems from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA and graduated from the Command and Staff College in Quantico, VA. He retired in 1998 as a Commander with a number of decorations, to include the Navy Commendation Medal with two gold stars, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal; Joint Meritorious Unit Award; Overseas Service Ribbon with two bronze stars; the National Defense Service Medal; Meritorious Unit Commendation with bronze star, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal; Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with three bronze stars; and a Battle "E" Ribbon. Paul developed an early passion for flying when his father took him up at age 3. He received his private pilot's license in 1976, commercial rating in 1996, and flight instructor certification in 1997. With over 4000 hours of flight time, he was certified in single-, multi- engine, and seaplane aircrafts. After a couple years as a government contractor and retiring from his second career as a software engineer, he devoted himself to his passion for flying and sharing his love of flight with others. In 2008, he joined SkyWorld Aviation, Inc. as the Chief Flight Instructor and Flight School Manager. Paul continued to work in the same capacity with Aviation Adventures, LLC. in 2010. Outside of his professional activities, Paul was active in volunteer flying with the Civil Air Control (CAP), where he served as the National Capital Wing as a Mission Pilot, Instructor Pilot, Check Pilot, Squadron Commander, and National Capital Wing Standardization and Evaluation Officer; and as a Volunteer Humanitarian Airlift Pilot for both Angel Flight and Mercy Medical Airlift organizations. Though his professional accomplishments were many, God was the center of Paul's life. Raised Roman Catholic, he later came to have a personal relationship with Christ in 1996 while attending a weekly prayer breakfast at the Pentagon. He recommitted his life to Christ and was baptized again in February of 2012. He was devoted to carrying out the mission of Christ through his personal activities on a daily basis, and obedient to spreading the good news of the gospel to others, particularly through his passion for flying. By combining his loves of Christ and flying, he strove to share his passions with others instead of just "punching holes in the sky," as he often said. He did all of this with the love and support of his family. Together with his wife, Joyce, of 31 years, they raised three children and successfully navigated the adventures of Navy life with assignments domestic and abroad. We'd like to thank the many friends who have come along side to support Paul's family: his wife, Joyce; children, Julie and Hugh with granddaughter Lucy, Peter and Sarah, and Regina; his parents, Paul and Louise; his siblings, Denise and Jim, and Joe and Janet with their children, Katie, Daniel, and Claire. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to one of the organizations listed below: Civil Air Patrol http://www.natcapwg.cap.gov/ Mercy Medical Airlift http://mercymedical.org/give/ Angel Flight http://www.angelflightmidatlantic.org/donors-and-partners/give/ Pilots for Christ http://www.pfcal.net/ Central Union Mission http://www.missiondc.org/support_us/give/ Our Daily Bread http://www.odbfairfax.org/ Sanctity of Life Ministries http://www.slmgetinvolved.org/donate.html

Tributes

Paul Richard Gardella, Jr. CDR, USN (Ret)

June 19, 1956 - May 28, 2012