John H. Dalton served as the 70th Secretary of the Navy and was recognized by the National Security Caucus as their 1997 International Security Leadership Award recipient. After graduating from the US Naval Academy, he served on two submarines. In 1977, President Carter nominated him as president of the Government National Mortgage Association (“Ginnie Mae”) and later a member and then Chairman of the Federal Home Loan Bank Board. In July 1993, President Clinton nominated him as Secretary of the Navy where he served for five and a half years.

In the private sector, Secretary Dalton began his career with Goldman Sachs. Between his two government tenures, he served in leadership positions of several financial firms. Secretary Dalton attended Louisiana State University one year before attending the US Naval Academy where, as Deputy Brigade Commander (the Brigade number two ranking position), he graduated with distinction in 1964. He was inducted into the LSU Alumni Hall of Distinction and was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws Degree from Trinity College. In 2016, he received the Distinguished Graduate Award from the Naval Academy and was also named an honorary Canon of the Washington National Cathedral. He and his wife, Margaret, reside in Washington.