City of Satellite Beach
50th Birthday Celebration
David
Lowe
Baseball/Football Athlete
The Lowe family moved to Satellite Beach in August 1970. David attended Surfside Elementary School, DeLaura Junior High School, and Satellite High School.
He graduated from Satellite High School in 1986. Throughout his scholastic years, he received numerous athletic awards as well as scholar/athlete awards.
He earned 3-year letterman honors in football and baseball, as well as letterman honors for track and field and basketball. Lowe led the Scorpion baseball team to their only state championship in 1986.
He was named the Central Florida Male Athlete of the Year in 1986 after being named to the First Team All-State as a tight end in football and First Team All-State as a pitcher in baseball.
USA Today named Lowe the Male High School Athlete of the Year for the State of Florida in the summer of 1986.
Lowe signed a football scholarship with Vanderbilt University during his senior year at Satellite High School.
After graduation, he was drafted in the fifth round of the Major League Baseball draft by the Seattle Mariners.
However, Lowe opted to pursue an appointment to the United States Naval Academy, where he majored in General Engineering. He graduated in 1990, where he was a four-year letterman in both football and baseball.
He earned All-East Honorable Mention honors as an outside linebacker in football and as a pitcher in baseball. Prior to his senior year at USNA, he was selected as a pitcher for Team USA, the national baseball team.
During his summer with Team USA, he was named the Most Valuable Pitcher against the Japanese National Team.
After graduation, Lowe started his journey as a Naval Aviator in the Cradle of Naval Aviation – Pensacola, FL. He earned his Wings of Gold in Kingsville, TX in October 1993.
He was later assigned to Fighter Squadron 101 (VF-101), the Grim Reapers, where he learned to fly the F-14 Tomcat.
His next assignment was with Fighter Squadron 103 (VF-103), the Jolly Rogers.
Making two extended deployments to the Mediterranean Sea and Persian Gulf on board the carriers USS ENTERPRISE and USS EISENHOWER, Lowe earned two Strike/Flight Air Medals for flying missions over Bosnia and Iraq.
His follow-on assignment was to the Navy Fighter Weapons School – TOPGUN. After graduation and designation as a Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor, he was assigned as the F-14 Program Manager for the Forward Air Controller (Airborne) course at Strike Weapons and Tactics School Atlantic.
Lowe transitioned to the F/A-18 in 2001 and was assigned to Carrier Air Wing Reserve 20 as the Staff Landing Signal Officer and Staff Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor.
A follow-on tour with Strike Fighter Squadron 203 (VFA-203), the Blue Dolphins, rounded out Lowe’s tactical flying career.
Lowe was assigned to the Naval War College where he earned a Masters Degree in National Security and Strategic Studies in 2005.
His next assignment was as the Reserve Program Director at Navy Operational Support Center Atlanta, GA.
Lowe’s future assignment will be as the Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC) Officer for Naval Air Station Atlanta, GA, scheduled to begin in spring 2007.
Lowe has accumulated over 3000 flying hours in the T-34C, T-2B, TA-4J, F-14 A/B/B-Upgrade, F/A-18 A/A+/B/C/D, and the C-12B, as well as over 400 carrier arrestments.
His flying experience has allowed him to acquire every tactical / instructor qualification in all Fleet aircraft in which he has been assigned to fly.
Growing up in Satellite Beach afforded David the opportunity to mature spiritually, emotionally, as well as physically.
Having exposure to the military at Patrick Air Force Base also kindled a spirit of service.
The academic challenges at the schools in the Satellite Beach area prepared him for the academic rigors of the United States Naval Academy as well as the Naval War College.
So to say that the Satellite Beach community had a tremendous impact on David’s life would be an understatement.
Lowe has been married to the former Wendy Rae Blackwell since 1992. They currently reside in Marietta, GA with their sons, Nathaniel and Joshua.
Lowe intends to retire from the United States Navy in spring 2010 after 20 years of active duty service to his country.