William P. Duval Chapter is proud of our member, Captain Natalie Nicole Fries.

Captain Natalie Nicole Fries
Pilot, USMC


Captain Natalie Nicole Fries, born in Winter Park, Florida in April 1982, attended Winter Park High School and graduated with honors in May 2000. She reported to the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland in June 2000. While there she earned numerous honors for her lacrosse abilities and academic excellence.

Captain Fries graduated the United States Naval Academy with a Bachelors of Science degree in Quantitative Economics. She earned a ground commission in the United States Marine Corps and in June of 2004 reported to The Basic School (TBS) in Quantico, Virginia. After graduating in the top ten of her Basic Officer Course (BOC) class, Captain Fries earned the opportunity to transition to the aviation side of the Marine Corps.

Accepting, she started initial flight training at Marine Corp Air Station (MCAS) Quantico in the Quantico Flying Club as part of the Introductory Flight School (IFS) program. After completing 15 hours in a Cessna 172, Captain Fries reported to Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola for Aviation Pre-Flight Indoctrination (API) as part of MATSG-21. Following the six weeks of ground school, Captain Fries moved 30 miles northeast to Milton, Florida for Primary Flight Training as part of Training Air Wing Five. At NAS Whiting Field she flew approximately 90 hours in the T-34C Turbomentor in Training Squadron Six (VT-6), the Shooters. Graduating February 2006, Captain Fries distinguished herself by earning the Commodore’s Academic Achievement Award.

Earning a spot in the advanced jet pipeline, she left Florida for south Texas. Captain Fries reported to NAS Kingsville (Training Air Wing Two) in February 2006 for Advanced flight training. As part of Training Squadron Twenty-Two (VT-22), the Golden Eagles, she completed 150 hours in the T-45A Goshawk and earned her call sign of “Woman.” She earned her coveted Wings of Gold on February 16, 2007.

Captain Fries is currently assigned to VMFA 312 the Checkerboards in Beaufort, SC. She pilots the F18C Hornet single seat off the USS Truman Aircraft Carrier. Her new call sign is “Spicey.”