Captain Daniel B. Summerall was born in Corsicana, Texas in 1949 and is the son of the late Jimmie Lou Gan of Midland, Texas and Duran Summerall of Corsicana, Texas. A graduate of Texas Technological University of Lubbock, Texas in 1972, he was commissioned an Ensign in October 1972 through the Aviation Officer Candidate Program. Completing multi-engine training in Corpus Christi, Texas, he was designated a Naval Aviator in November 1973.

Following initial E-2C training in RVAW-120, his first assignment was with VR-24 in Naples, Italy and later Sigonella, Sicily where he flew C-1A's and C-2A's providing Carrier Onboard Delivery to Sixth Fleet Carriers. In May 1977 he was assigned to RVAW-110, NAS Miramar as an instructor pilot flying the E-2B and E-2C. Reporting aboard for his first E-2 fleet tour in February, 1980 with the VAW-116 "Sun Kings," he immediately deployed with USS Constellation and Carrier Air Wing Nine where they spent 109 continuous days at sea in the Indian Ocean in support of the Iranian hostage crisis. During this tour, he served as Department Head for the Safety, Administrative and Maintenance Departments. He was selected as the COMFITAEWWINGPAC Hawkeye of the Year for 1980, which recognizes the most outstanding junior officer in the VAW community. Following a short 18-month sojourn to Monterey, CA where he completed studies for a Masters Degree, it was back to the fleet with VAW-116 again, this time with Carrier Air Wing Two embarked on USS Ranger. A Westpac/IO cruise and two surge deployments later, Captain Summerall finished up his second tour where he served as Department Head for each of the major Departments. In July 1987 he reported to COMFITAEWWINGPAC where he served as the E-2C/C-2A Weapons System Manager. He reported to the "Grey Ghosts" of VAW-112 as Executive Officer in January, 1990 and assumed command April 18, 1991 only hours after passing through the Straits of Hormuz in the Arabian Gulf during Operation Desert Storm. He was selected as the CINCPACFLT AEW Golden Tailhooker of the year for 1991. Following this highly successful first deployment of the E-2C Group I, Captain Summerall relinquished command in June 1992. He reported to the USS Nimitz (CVN 68) as the Combat Direction Center Officer and completed another Arabian Gulf deployment. USS Nimitz returned to her homeport of Bremerton, WA, and Captain Summerall was assigned as the Operations Officer where he led the carrier through a Comprehensive Overhaul, which included the installation of major combat system upgrades. During the last four months of this tour, Captain Summerall was assigned to the Fifth Allied Tactical Air Force in Vicenza, Italy (a NATO Component) where he served as the Deputy Plans Director for Operations Provide Promise and Deny Flight supporting the United Nations operations in Bosnia- Herzegovina. He was also in charge of flight operations in support of Operation Sharp Guard, the multi-national maritime enforcement of the arms embargo of Bosnia. Upon completion of this assignment, he reported to the Navy International Programs Office in Washington, DC where he served as the Director of the Southern and Central Command regions, providing security assistance to his assigned regions.

Captain Summerall has accumulated more than 5000 flight hours and over 475 carrier landings on 12 operational carriers. His decorations include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal with Gold Star, Navy Commendation Medal with Gold Star, Joint Meritorious Unit Commendation with Oak Leaf Cluster, Navy Expeditionary Medal with Bronze Star, National Defense Medal with Bronze Star, Overseas Service and Sea Service Ribbons and the Southwest Asia Campaign Medal.

Captain Summerall retired after 26 years in the US Navy and now resides in Austin, TX with his wife Patti.