In the Spring of 1981 at the ripe age of 21, Dalton left the countryside and joined the Navy.
Shortly after joining the Navy, Dalton went to Storekeeper (SK) A-School in Meridian, Mississippi. Upon graduation, Dalton spent three years on board the USS Claude V. Rickets DDG-5, two years on an admiral staff for a Surface Warfare Commander group, and four years as a Navy Recruiter in Colombia, South Carolina.
In 1989, Dalton was assigned to USS Simon Lake AS-43 in Holy Loch, Scotland, where he stayed until the base was closed and all assets were withdrawn in 1992.
Upon moving back to the United States, Dalton began work at the Shore Intermediate Maintenance Activity (SIMA) in Norfolk, Virginia. After working at SIMA for three years, Dalton learned of the assignment that would change his life forever: Navy Supply Chief sourcing operational equipment for SEAL Team 8.
It was while fulfilling this position that Dalton and his Supply Officer and current ADS employee, Glenn Kinnear, became Atlantic Diving Supply’s (ADS) first customer.