Decorated U.S. Naval Aviatior Joins EAA Staff

Jim DiMatteo, a decorated U.S. Naval Aviator who has served in several aviation leadership positions, is joining EAA as Vice President, AirVenture Features and Attractions. In that role, DiMatteo will be responsible for developing and coordinating the programs for the annual EAA AirVenture Oshkosh fly-in.

DiMatteo recently retired from the U.S. Navy as a Captain following an impressive career, which included leading 2011’s Centennial of Naval Aviation Foundation programs nationwide. In more than 20 years as a Naval Aviator, he flew more than 5,000 hours in five different fighter aircraft, including 72 combat missions in support of Operation Desert Storm. DiMatteo also served as Commanding Officer for TOPGUN Adversary Squadrons in Florida and Nevada (VFC-111 and VFC-13), where his squadrons earned the unprecedented “Triple Crown of Naval Aviation” – top honors for operations, safety and maintenance. Following that achievement, DiMatteo was promoted to a position reporting directly to the Commander of Naval Air Forces, overseeing all TOPGUN Adversary Programs.

From 2006-10, DiMatteo served as International Race Director for the Red Bull Air Race World Series, a worldwide series of aviation events that captured public imagination and high visibility as a unique aerial competition featuring the world’s top aerobatic pilots. In 2011, DiMatteo was invited to join Air Race Inc., an international company that is developing the next generation of single aircraft timed air racing.

“Jim DiMatteo is an excellent addition to the EAA staff,” said Rod Hightower, EAA President and CEO. “His background, expertise and leadership will enable us to make EAA AirVenture – already ‘The World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration’ – even better.”

DiMatteo earned an engineering degree from the University of California-Berkeley, and has served on a variety of professional and civic organization boards. He also owns and operates an award-winning restaurant in San Diego’s popular Gaslamp Quarter. DiMatteo and his wife, Kathy, have two children: a daughter (11) and a son (8).

FMI: www.eaa.org