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U.S. Navy pilot and Squalicum alumnus Commander Chris “Wildcat” Pratt visits Bellingham Public Schools

CDR Pratt sits with Squalicum leadership students and staff in a conference room meeting

CDR Pratt sits with Squalicum leadership students and staff in a conference room meeting.

CDR Pratt poses for a portrait photo outside of Bellingham High School with the school in the background

CDR Pratt poses for a portrait photo outside of Bellingham High School with the school in the background.

CDR Pratt shakes hands with a member of the Squalicum student leadership team

CDR Pratt shakes hands with a member of the Squalicum student leadership team.

CDR Pratt presents to students in an aerospace manufacturing classroom

CDR Pratt presents to students in an aerospace manufacturing classroom.

CRD Pratt chats with a Squalicum student in a robotics classroom

CRD Pratt chats with a Squalicum student in a robotics classroom.

CDR Pratt laughs and visits with Squalicum students in the commons

CDR Pratt laughs and visits with Squalicum students in the commons.

CDR Pratt and Options teacher Jeff Thran discuss the amenities in the shop classroom

CDR Pratt and Options teacher Jeff Thran discuss the amenities in the shop classroom.

Squalicum principal Laurel Peak shows CDR Pratt a classroom

Squalicum principal Laurel Peak shows CDR Pratt a classroom.

CDR Pratt sits at a table in a shop classroom and speaks to students

CDR Pratt sits at a table in a shop classroom and speaks to students.

CDR Pratt stands in front of a leadership class at Bellingham High School and shares remarks

CDR Pratt stands in front of a leadership class at Bellingham High School and shares remarks.

CDR Pratt sits with Squalicum students interested in the military during a conference room meeting

CDR Pratt sits with Squalicum students interested in the military during a conference room meeting.

U.S. Navy pilot and Squalicum alumnus Commander Chris “Wildcat” Pratt visits Bellingham Public Schools

CDR Pratt, students and staff discuss leadership, education experiences and more during engagement and outreach visit

U.S. Navy Commander Chris “Wildcat” Pratt connected with students at Squalicum, Bellingham and Options high schools as well as the Bellingham Public Schools executive team in a mutually beneficial experience over a two-day span in September. 

The trip was a return home for CDR Pratt, who attended Larrabee Elementary School, Fairhaven Middle School and Bellingham High School before graduating from Squalicum High School in 2001.  

He has had an illustrious career as a naval aviator and currently serves as the CNAF LEGACY (Leadership, Education, Growth, Advocacy, Culture, Youth outreach) Director, leading leadership development and youth outreach efforts across naval aviation. 

While walking school halls and meeting with students and staff, he shared positive memories of his own education experience and marveled at the wisdom of present-day high school students and course offerings. 

"Returning home to Bellingham and sharing the opportunities and experiences I’ve been fortunate to have throughout my career in naval aviation has been one of the greatest personal and professional honors of my life,” CDR Pratt said. “I am deeply grateful to this incredible community for fostering an environment that allowed me — and so many others — to learn, grow, and thrive. Despite having lived in duty stations throughout the country — Bellingham will forever be my home." 

Students were interested to learn about his story and experiences. CDR Pratt shared openly with thoughtfulness and humility while often asking students questions to learn more about education experiences as well as future goals. 

As an outreach visit, conversations focused on leadership and education as opposed to recruitment.  

For example, at Squalicum High School members of the ASB leadership team and CDR Pratt discussed leadership styles comparable in high school and in the Navy. Among many topics, one theme was connecting the reality that there are usually competing desires within groups being led, and strategies to ensure everyone is heard and the best possible decisions are made. 

CDR Pratt marveled at the wisdom and maturity of the Squalicum student leaders and their wholistic leadership approach. A staff member commended the students’ leadership in planning a spirit theme for a football game while also including a well-communicated halftime focus on suicide prevention and awareness.  

Another Squalicum visit included students with future military interest, some of whom are members of the Bellingham Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol. The meeting allowed CDR Pratt to share about earning his commission through the Stanford University NROTC program and subsequent career as a Navy pilot while also overviewing other methods for commission and considerations for joining the military. 

At Bellingham High School, CDR Pratt met with a leadership class and discussed leadership themes and challenges before visiting an aerospace manufacturing course at Options High School. The aerospace manufacturing course is a magnet class that includes students from all four BPS high schools.  

CDR Pratt listened as each student shared why they were in the class and what they hoped to design and build.  

He marveled at the shop classroom equipment and student project interests in comparison to his own career and technical education class options years ago and found joy in learning the same balsa wood bridge-building physics projects he enjoyed at Squalicum are still a part of courses for students today. 

His trip back to Bellingham nearly 25 years after his own graduation was an executive outreach visit via the Navy’s Office of Community Outreach (NAVCO).  

The two-day trip to Bellingham also included visits with Western Washington University President Sabah Randhawa and the Veteran Services Office, Bellingham Mayor Kim Lund, the Port of Bellingham, the Bellingham Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Bellingham Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol, which includes BPS students. 

Learn more about CDR Pratt by reading his biography here and click here to view a photo album of the visit. 

  • Community in Action