Alan Lerchbacker '70

Inspired by a member of his neighbor’s family, Alan Lerchbacker ‘70, knew from the young age of 10 that he wanted to go to the United States Naval Academy. While at EC, Alan says that Freshmen Basketball Coach Lou Rotunda, Cross Country Coach Dick Elsasser, and Principal Sister Mary Neil, SND, were positive and strong role models for him and he owes EC much for his future successes. As he dreamed and planned, Alan DID attend the United States Naval Academy earning both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. He became an aquanaut serving the US Navy for 26 years and held posts in Virginia, Italy, Guam, Hawaii, and Japan. He was initially deployed in Cold War intelligence missions and then the recovery efforts of the Space Shuttle Challenger off the coast of Cape Canaveral, a UH-46 Helicopter from a depth of 17,252 fsw, and an Air Florida Flight that crashed in the Florida Everglades.

Alan went on to earn his MBA from Claremont Graduate University. Since departing the Navy, he has served as the CEO of five different companies including Austal which teamed with General Dynamics and Boeing to build the next class of ships, LCS, Littoral Combat Ship, for the U.S. Navy. Alan retired from industry in 2019 but now shares his talents teaching global leadership courses at both the University of San Diego and California State University San Marcos. Still fond of the water, Alan resides in Cardiff by the Sea in California with his wife, Amy, who he met surfing in Hawaii.  He still surfs almost every day.