Dan Fanelli For Congress

Dan Fanelli is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy receiving a Bachelors of Science Degree, majoring in Economics with a minor in Engineering. While at the Naval Academy, he was selected as a Company Commander, was on the wrestling team, and was a member of the church choir. Upon the successful completion of Naval Flight Training School, Dan also received the coveted Naval Aviator’s “Wing’s of Gold”. During Dan’s active duty, he excelled as a Naval Aviator and an Instructor Pilot.

Fanelli learned early the character demands of leadership, courage and loyalty. After completing over 8 years of active duty, Dan served in the Naval Reserves for almost 12 more years and retired from the Naval Reserves after a total of 20 years of service, achieving the rank of Lieutenant Commander.

While serving in the Naval Reserves, Dan established a successful career as a commercial pilot with a major airline, again using the leadership skills acquired during his service to his country. Of notable significance, he was the captain of a Boeing 727 aircraft on September 11, 2001. Captain Fanelli’s flight originated in Detroit, with a destination of Reagan National Airport in Washington DC, when the Twin Towers and the Pentagon were attacked by terrorist. Under these extraordinary circumstances, his flight was diverted to Washington Dulles International Airport where he landed safely with his passengers and crew. Dan’s recounting of the attacks while airborne is a particularly insightful and chilling look into the events of that tragic day and the character and leadership of Dan Fanelli.

Dan met his wife, Anne, while he was a midshipman at the Naval Academy. They have been married 32 years and have three children (ages 20, 29, and 31), and are the proud grandparents of twins born in January 2010. Daniel, Jr. is a graduate of the UCF, Christina is a graduate of the University of Miami, and Clinton is currently a Senior attending FSU. They have been residents of Central Florida and Congressional District 8 for almost 20 years.

After retiring early as an airline Captain in December 2007, Dan has been a small business owner as well as a licensed real estate associate. Dan also holds a temporary State of Florida Public School Teaching Certificate, and has experience in substitute teaching. He has been a past Cub Master and Assistant Boy Scout Troop Leader, has been very active in serving his local community, and has served as a leader of his Homeowners Association.

Dan is currently a member of the Naval Academy Alumni Association, the VFW, the American Legion, Orange County Republican Executive Committee, Southwest Orange County Republican Club, Orange County Sportsman’s Association, his church choir, and is the Grand Knight for his Knights of Columbus Council. Dan Fanelli also actively participates in the local Tea Party events, and attended the historic and patriotic “9-12-09 Tea Party” event in Washington, DC. He is also a member of the Windermere Parks and Recreation Committee, and independently led the initiative that resulted in the preservation and the current gifting to the Town of Windermere of a beautiful green-space area that includes a natural wildlife preserve and an island in Lake Crescent. The propery had been valued at approximately $12,000,000. Dan was the first Republican and Tea Party candidate to publically enter the race against Alan Grayson, and is the only candidate for the 8th Congressional District that is a Veteran.