Richard A. Cataldi

Born and raised in Western Pennsylvania, Cataldi left home to attend the Naval Academy. He became a carrier pilot flying both the S-2 and the S-3 aircraft from the decks of the SARATOGA and NIMITZ. He completed a master’s degree in Public Administration at Auburn University while attending the Air War College at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, AL. He found he enjoyed teaching when he ran two school houses (VS Support Unit and Aviation Officer Candidate School, Pensacola) and taught Leadership and Strategic Planning at the Academy. He also coached the women’s soccer club and lobbied for and achieved varsity status for the club.

Cataldi, his wife, Susie and son, Marc, moved to Farragut, TN, in 1993, when he retired after completing 24 years of service. He has a daughter, Alina, raising his two grandchildren, as well as a son, Brian. He taught Navy Junior ROTC nearly 10 years. Rich was then certified and licensed as a high school math teacher by completing the Transition-2-Teaching Course of Instruction at University of Memphis funded by Troops-to-Teachers. He then taught advanced algebra, trigonometry and geometry for nine years. He and his family have been parishioners at St. John Neumann Catholic Church since their arrival in Tennessee. He has served as both vice president and president of the St. John Neumann Catholic School Home and School Association and the Village Green Home Owners’ Association. Additionally, he has been the president of the local chapter of MOAA, a Fourth Degree District Marshall (protocol officer) for the local Assembly of the Knights of Columbus and is the president of the Knoxville-Oak Ridge Chapter of the Alumni Association. He has been a USSF soccer referee and referee instructor and was active in the community as a judge and poll operator for elections.