Commander Farley was born in Chicago, Illinois, and raised in Geneva, Ohio. Joining the Navy in August, 1963, he completed boot camp at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Illinois, in November, 1963, and was assigned as a student to Fleet Sonar School, Key West, Florida. Assignments as a Sonar Technician at Inshore Undersea Warfare Group Two, Advanced Sonar Training at Key West, USS HAMMERBERG (DE-1015) and Service Schools Command, San Diego, followed.

In 1972 Dave was selected for Warrant Officer and reported aboard USS VANCOUVER (LPD-2) as Electronics Material Officer. During this tour VANCOUVER participated in the MV Mayaguez evacuation action in Cambodia as well as demining operations and the evacuation of Saigon during the last stage of the Vietnam conflict. In 1975 he was selected for the Limited Duty Officer Program and assigned as Assistant Officer-in-Charge, Naval Radio Transmitter Facility, Dixon, California. There followed assignments on the USS CONSTELLATION (CV-64), during which the ship saw extensive contingency operations in the North Arabian Sea during the Iranian hostage crisis.

After sea duty, Dave enjoyed shore duty as Executive Officer, Navy Submarine Support Facility, San Diego; Officer-in-Charge, Mobile Technical Unit Thirteen, Subic Bay, Republic of the Philippines; Combat Systems Officer on the staff of Commander, Carrier Strike Force, U.S. Seventh Fleet, Cubi Point, Republic of the Philippines; Combat Systems Maintenance Officer on the staff of Commander, Naval Air Forces, U.S. Pacific Fleet; Executive Officer/Fleet Liaison Officer, Naval Electronics Center, San Diego; and Combat Systems Officer on the staff of Commander, Cruiser-Destroyer Group Two.

Making up for all the shore duty, Dave embarked in USS AMERICA, (CV-66), where he served on the staff of Commander, Cruiser-Destroyer Group Two which saw duty as one of the Carrier Battle Group commanders during the first Gulf War (Operation Desert Storm). Dave’s last assignment in uniform was as Officer-in-Charge, Mobile Technical Unit Ten in Charleston. While in this position he oversaw the merger of MOTU 10, Naval Sea Support Center Atlantic, Detachment Charleston, and Commander, Naval Surface Forces, Atlantic Performance Monitoring Team, forming Fleet Technical Support Center Atlantic, Detachment Charleston.

During his service Dave was able to take advantage of the educational opportunities offered by the Navy, earning a Bachelor’s from the State University of New York and a Master’s from the University of LaVerne, LaVerne, Ca..

After completing over 32 years service, Commander Farley retired in October, 1995.

Work in the defense industry supporting SPAWAR Systems Center, Charleston, followed retirement from active duty. Dave served in various management roles for Resource Consultants, Inc., SAIC-AMSEC, Engineering Services Network and Anteon, Inc., before retiring from the defense industry in 2003.

Dave’s life in ‘retirement’ involves active support of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, doing volunteer work for Lutheran Hospice, and supporting MOAA Charleston.

He and wife Dot share their retirement years in Wando, South Carolina.