Vice Admiral Anthony (Tony) A. Less, U.S. Navy (Retired)

Vice Admiral Anthony (Tony) A. Less, U.S. Navy (Retired). . Vice Admiral Tony Less was born in Salem, Ohio on August 31, 1937. He attended St. Patricks School and graduated: from Leetonia High School in 1955. Upon graduating from Heidelberg College in Tiffin, Ohio, he completed the Naval Aviation Officer Candidate Program and was commissioned as Ensign in April 1960. He earned his Naval Aviator wings in June 1961., Admiral Less retired from the service at the rank of Vice- Admiral (three stars). His last duty assignment was as Commander Naval Air Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, During his three-year tour, he managed at the CEO level the largest capital assets at sea on the East Coast, to include seven carrier battle groups and numerous aircraft squadrons and detachments., Operational and combat tours included five Light Attack squadron assignments, flying primarily A-4 Skyhawk and A- 7 Corsair II aircraft. Admiral Less has logged more than 6,200 hours and over 1,000 arrested carrier landings in navy front-line tactical jets. His sea assignments have. Included command of Attack Squadron TWELVE; Carrier Air Wing NINE; USS WICHITA (AOR-1); Navy aircraft carrier USS RANGER (CV-61); Carrier Group ONE; and Joint Task Force Middle East and Middle East Force., Admiral Less' shore assignments have included duty as an A-4 Skyhawk weapons instructor; Director of Political Military Affairs on the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Washington, D.C.; and Director of Plans, Policy and Operations for Chief of Naval Operations during Desert Shield/Desert Storm. He was the first ever Commanding Officer of the Navy's Blue Angels Flight Demonstration Squadron and carried the Navy message that reached well over two million people., Admiral Less retired from active duty on May 1, 1994. He is authorized to wear the Defense Distinguished Service Medal (with gold star in lieu of second award), Defense Superior Service Medal (with Oak Leaf cluster in lieu of second award), Legion of Merit (with gold star in lieu of second award), Air Medal with 10 strike/flight awards, Navy Commendation Medal with Combat "V", Joint Meritorious United Award, Navy Unit Commendation, Navy Ribbon and other campaign awards.