Secretary

secretary

LCOL Albert LaBella, USA (Ret)

Al was born in Utica, NY but spent his formative years growing up in Hollywood, FL, taking full advantage of the opportunities south Florida had to offer.

crew patch Al began his military career right out of high school. His first assignment after training was in the AW rating as a Sensor Station Three Operator/Electronic Warfare Operator from 1984-1988, assigned to VP-45’s CAC-12 for deployments to Rota/Lajes, Bermuda, and Sigonella. Al is proud that he was a member of the same exceptional crew during his entire time in the squadron, serving with a number of great leaders and mentors that helped shaped his military career.

Following his tour in VP-45, he reported to VX-1 at NAS Patuxent River, MD. While there, Al was part of many unique missions such as supporting ICBM missile testing in the South Atlantic, participating in a coalition exercise north of the Arctic Circle, earning the Blue Nose certificate, and as the Digital MAD operator on the S-3B Viking.

Upon completion of eight years of active Naval Service, Al returned to Jacksonville to begin his collegiate endeavor at the University of North Florida. While attending UNF, Al remained a reservist in VP-62 as an EWO, ultimately accruing over 3,000 flight hours of flight time.

Also while at UNF, Al enrolled into the Army ROTC program and decided to pursue a second military career as an Army officer. Upon graduation in 1994, he was commissioned as a regular Army second lieutenant in the Air Defense Artillery, commencing his 22 year Army career.

While in the Army, Al served in several distinguished, and well known, units including the 82d retired wings and 101st Airborne Divisions as a Stinger missile platoon leader and battery commander. Al was also a battalion executive officer and a brigade deputy commander in Patriot missile units. In addition to operational units, Al also served as a Military Science Instructor at West Point.

In 2016, Al completed his Army career with two final tours where he had started, Fort Bragg; first at XVIII Airborne Corps as the Air Missile Defense Chief with a deployment to Iraq and then as an Inspector General. Upon retirement, he had spent a total of 30 years in uniform.
Al is currently the Command Inspector General for the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD.

retired patches Al has been married to his wife, Sharon, for over 34 years. him throughout their military journey of deployments, living overseas, and moving 17 times while raising two great daughters, Mia and LTjg Sophia LaBella. They currently live in Havre de Grace, MD, and Al was elected Secretary of the Association in 2022.