Hunter Ellis was
born in Alexandria, Virginia, and spent many years
moving around as part of a U.S. Navy family. Growing
up both in California and Virginia, Ellis spent
several years in Virginia Beach before graduating
from high school in Alexandria.
Ellis attended the University of Southern California
where he was a member of the Alpha Tau Omega
Fraternity. After receiving a Bachelor of Arts
degree in Political Science, he was commissioned
as an Ensign in the U.S. Navy and went on to
complete Naval Flight Training in Corpus Christi
and Kingsville, Texas. Graduating number one
in his class, Ellis moved to Corona Del Mar,
Calif., to continue his training as an F/A-18
strike-fighter pilot. His operational tours
include 2 six-month Western Pacific/Persian
Gulf deployments flying Hornets off the U.S.S.
Carl Vinson and the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln while
stationed in Lemoore, Calif. Assigned to the
"Stingers" of Strike Fighter Squadron
113, he also achieved qualifications as a Landing
Signals Officer and as an F/A-18 Flight Demonstration
pilot. Ellis ended his tour with the Navy as
an F/A-18 tactics instructor in San Diego, Calif.,
in July of 2001. During his career he amassed
over 2000 flight hours and 433 carrier landings.
Hunter Ellis currently works as a pilot for
a major shipping company. He has also worked
as an ocean lifeguard with the Virginia Beach
Lifesaving Service. He currently lives in La
Jolla, Calif., where he enjoys all outdoor sports.
An avid traveler, Ellis makes annual visits
to Tavarua, Fiji, and Whistler, British Columbia,
to surf and ski, respectively. His birth date
is July 5.
