LEMOORE, Calif. - Every sailor’s story of naval service is unique. For Lt. Cmdr. Claten Bechtol, this story has ties to Austin, Texas, where skills and values learned there are foundational to success in the Navy.
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| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Mitch Meppelink |
“I was big into sports, and I think being on a team was always something I loved being a part of,” Bechtol said. “I didn’t focus so much on individual accomplishment, but being part of something bigger than myself was something I always enjoyed. Building relationships with the folks around me has been the most rewarding thing. Seeing the whole thing work when we all work together, whether it’s not seeing land for 100 days, or here at home. The most challenging part is figuring out how to get the best out of everybody and use that to accomplish things beyond expectations. The best part is seeing everyone bring their best to the table and watching the magic happen.”
Bechtol attended Midway High School in Waco, Texas, and graduated in 2002 from the McCallie School in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Additionally, Bechtol earned a bachelor’s degree in business in 2014 and an MBA in 2023, both from Columbia College.
Bechtol joined the Navy 19 years ago.
“I realized after a couple of years of college at the University of Mississippi that school wasn’t really for me and that I wasn’t interested in college at the time,” Bechtol said. “I grew up on ‘Top Gun,’ and naval aviation fascinated me. It’s cliché, but I wanted to be part of a team bigger than myself. I enlisted in 2008. I was an aviation machinist’s mate for eight years, made it to aviation machinist’s mate first class, and then I commissioned as an officer while I was working at Naval Air Station Fallon.”
Today, Bechtol serves as an aviation maintenance duty officer assigned to Commander, Joint Strike Fighter Wing onboard Naval Air Station (NAS) Lemoore.
NAS Lemoore is home to Commander Strike Fighter Wing Pacific and Commander Joint Strike Fighter Wing. More than half of the Navy’s F/A-18E/F Super Hornet aircraft reside here, and it is the only Navy installation to house the F-35C Lightning II.
Carrier strike groups and the embarked aviation squadrons are the cornerstone of U.S. naval power projection and sea power. They can quickly maneuver thousands of miles with the world’s most capable warships and top-notch sailors, remaining on station in areas of interest without relying on land bases or overflight agreements. U.S. Navy aircraft carriers are the most adaptable, lethal and survivable airfields in the world and their presence serves as the most credible commitment to our allies and partners.
Naval aviation provides the Navy and our nation with a flexible, adaptable, and lethal force to preserve peace, respond in crises and win decisively in combat. The U.S. Navy maintains and operates more than 2,000 aircraft to fulfill various mission sets in order to preserve the American way of life and ensure freedom, security and prosperity.
With 90% of global commerce traveling by sea and access to the internet relying on the security of undersea fiber-optic cables, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity of the United States is directly linked to recruiting and retaining talented people from across the rich fabric of America.
Bechtol has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“For me, getting commissioned was a pretty big accomplishment,” Bechtol said. “I am proud that I was able to start as an airman apprentice, work my way up, and then jump over to the other side of the house with the common thread of being enlisted prior to being an officer. There’s a certain level of respect you get, but it’s the ability to see both sides of the house to make better decisions for my sailors.”
Bechtol serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation’s prosperity and security.
This year, the Navy is commemorating its contribution to the nation’s defense as the United States celebrates 250 years of independence. According to Navy officials, for more than 250 years, the Navy has sailed the globe defending freedom and protecting prosperity. More information is available here: https://www.navy.mil/navy-250/
“Serving in the Navy has given me a greater purpose and has allowed me to be a part of something greater than myself,” Bechtol said. “It means serving my country and being the best role model I can be for my children.”
Bechtol is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I want to thank my dad, Gary Bechtol, for the love, support and mentorship he gave me growing up,” Bechtol said. “I also want to thank my mom and stepdad, Darlyn and Drew Cartwright, for their love, support and guidance. They all made me who I am today. I want to thank my wife, Gretchen, for being the steady rock at home and the foundation of our horde.”