Dale Vandergaw
Director of Military and Defense Affairs, San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau
Dale Vandergaw currently serves as the Director of Military and Defense Affairs for the San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau. He also serves as the military/defense industry marketing head worldwide and community liaison between the regional tourism industry and the regional military complex.
Prior to the joining the bureau in 1993, Dale progressed through twelve corporate and senior executive positions in flight operations, airport operations, customer service and marketing with Continental Airlines, Frontier Airlines and Scheduled Airline Traffic Offices (SATO).
He is a member of the founding Board of Directors of the Fleet Week Foundation and served as the second President. In 2004 he was inducted into the Fleet Week Hall of Fame for a decade of leadership in numerous organizations in support of our nation’s military and San Diego’s military community.
Over the past two decades he has been very active in the Military Affairs Executive Committee, Military Affairs Advisory Council, BRAC Committee, Board Member USO, National Defense Transportation Association, Homeporting Committees for USS Ronald Reagan, USS John C. Stennis, USS Nimitz and the co-chairman of the U.S. - Soviet naval visit to San Diego. Dale is also a member of the Holiday Bowl/Poinsettia Bowl Committee and ex officio member of the USS Midway Board of Directors.