Chad founded Creighton Strategies Group in 2024 after 20 years in the U.S Navy and 10 years of working in Government Affairs roles in Washington, DC.  During his time in the Navy, Chad flew the F/A-18 Hornet and Super Hornet during multiple combat deployments and taught Data Link Management and Air-to-Air F/A-18 Employment at TOPGUN.  He served as a Defense Legislative Fellow for a Subcommittee Chairman on the House Armed Services Committee and as a NORAD & NORTHCOM Legislative Affairs Officer, specializing in Homeland Defense to include missile defense.  Chad finished his Navy career in the Secretary of Defense’s office as the lead legislative affairs officer for the F-35 and represented multiple programs for the Undersecretaries of Defense for Acquisition & Sustainment and Research and Engineering.  Finally, Chad was selected and served as the Secretary of Defense’s Senate Affairs Director where he oversaw the Secretary’s engagements with the Senate. 

After retiring from the Navy, Chad worked as the head of legislative affairs for the National Commission on Military Aviation Safety and as Naval Aviation Safety Advisor to the Director.  Chad has also worked at Lockheed Martin as the Government Relations Senior Manager for Naval Aviation Program where he led capture teams and liaised with Pentagon requirements officers for Lockheed’s Naval Aviation programs.

Most recently, Chad was the Director of Washington Operations for AeroVironment, one of the largest of unmanned systems suppliers to the Department of Defense.  In this role Chad advocated for AV’s programs to both the House and Senate with authorizers and appropriators.  During his time at AV he consistently secured additional funding for multiple programs, created and implemented a calendar based strategy for working with Congress, arranged and managed AV’s CEO’s first congressional hearing, led multiple CODELS and STAFFDELS to AV facilities, managed AV’s Political Action Committee, and oversaw independent consultants that helped AV’s branding on Capito Hill. 

Chad received his Bachelor of Science Undergraduate degree from the United States Naval Academy and his Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. He is the author of multiple articles in Naval Aviation Warfare publications and received the Robert “Trey” Clukey leadership award for performance.