Captain Jim Settele reported to NROTC Unit Maine Maritime Academy as Commanding Officer in July 2006.

Captain Settele graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1982 with a degree in Resources Management. Upon commissioning, Settele reported to Naval Flight Officer training in Pensacola, Florida.

After completing his training in Pensacola, Settele was assigned to VAW-110, a training squadron at Naval Air Station Miramar in California. While serving at this command, Settele received his wings and became a qualified Naval Flight Officer in January 1984.

Following his tour in California, Settele reported to VAW-115, Atsugi, Japan, completing two western Pacific deployments on board USS MIDWAY (CV-41). During this time, he qualified as a mission commander in E-2B Hawkeyes and successfully transitioned to the E-2C.

In August 1986, Settele returned to the U.S. Naval Academy as a Company Officer, where he also completed his master’s degree in management information systems at George Washington University.

After his shore duty, Settele returned to sea with VAW-114 aboard USS CARL VINSON (CVN 70) as the Administrative Department Head.

Subsequently, in August 1991, he transferred to Carrier Airborne Early Warning Weapons School as the Anti-Air Warfare and Mobile Training Team Director. While there, he was temporarily assigned to U.S. Naval Central Command for the commencement of Operation SOUTHERN WATCH, where he was the liaison in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, between the Navy battle groups and Coalition Air Forces.

In October 1993, Settele reported to VAW-113, an E-2C squadron at NAS Miramar, San Diego, As the Operations Officer, he completed the first deployment of the E-2C Group II aircraft on board USS CARL VINSON (CVN 70) in support of Operation SOUTHERN WATCH.

After this department head tour, he reported to the Bureau of Naval Personnel in Washington, D.C. where he served as a Placement Officer for several aviation communities. In July 1997, he reported to the U.S. Marine Corps Command and Staff College in Quantico, Virginia, and following this assignment, he joined an E-2C squadron in Norfolk, VA, VAW-126, as their executive officer in April 1999.

In May 2000, Settele took command of VAW-126 and deployed on the maiden voyage of USS HARRY S. TRUMAN (CVN 75). Following his command tour, he served only three months as Deputy Air Wing Commander for Carrier Air Wing THREE before reporting as Military Assistant to the Secretary of Defense in October 2001. Settele served with Secretary Donald Rumsfeld for two years during Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM. He departed the Pentagon in August 2003 to complete a one-year fellowship with St. Antony’s College at Oxford University in England.

In 2004, Settele departed for Naples, Italy, where he served as Director for Operations and Director for Policy and Strategy for the new combined staff of Commander, Naval Forces Europe and Commander, SIXTH Fleet (CNE-C6F).

Captain Settele has over 3,000 flight hours and over 600 carrier-arrested landings.