About the USS Yorktown Foundation

Kevin McDearis is a leader, visionary, and proven business and technology innovator with global experience across a broad spectrum of industries. As Executive Vice President, Chief Products Officer at Blackbaud, Kevin is responsible for strategy, product management, engineering and operations of the company’s global portfolio of products. Working with business and technical teams, he oversees technology strategy to develop solutions that exceed quality and performance expectations for Blackbaud’s customers across 60 countries worldwide.  Kevin has a track record as a pioneer in the online payments space. As a senior leader at Fiserv (formerly CheckFree), a leading global provider of financial services technology, Kevin played key roles in tech innovations that developed the online bill pay capabilities leveraged by millions of individuals and organizations today.

Kevin has a strong commitment to nonprofit leadership and has served on a number of nonprofit boards supporting economic growth, women in technology, and STEM education. He has served on the Board of Directors for the Technology Association of Georgia, TAG, since 2011 and as Vice-Chairman of the Board in 2014. During his time on the board, TAG has grown to be the largest technology association in the country. Kevin most recently joined the Board of Directors for the USS Yorktown Foundation.

Melissa Cox Bosse is a Navy veteran, working mother of three, former Congressional aide and community leader. From an early age, Melissa’s family instilled in her the values of patriotism, fiscal responsibility, strong work ethic, and faith.

Melissa was the first of her family to graduate college. She received a full scholarship through the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) to Penn State University, where upon graduation, she was commissioned as an officer into the U.S. Navy. Melissa served on active duty as a surface warfare officer from 2002–2006. She was among the first female officers to serve aboard a guided missile cruiser (USS Philippine Sea (CG 58)) and deployed to the Middle East during wartime operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Following her honorable discharge from the Navy as a Lieutenant, Melissa enrolled in The George Washington University, where she earned a master’s degree in National Security Policy Studies from the Elliott School of International Affairs. Melissa continued her call to serve and for five years worked as a Military Legislative Assistant for congressional members of the Armed Services Committee and the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in the US House of Representatives.

Following her time in Congress, Melissa worked as a policy advisor and development director at a Washington DC think-tank, Business Executives for National Security. There she led fundraising outreach and engagements with executive business leaders across the US and abroad.

Melissa has spent the last decade in the private sector working for various global consulting and technology firms focusing on security, policy development and governance.

Melissa and her family reside in Daniel Island, South Carolina. She is a devoted family woman and met her husband, Kevin, while serving in the Navy. Kevin continues to serve as a Captain in the US Navy Reserve. They have three young children together.

Melissa is active in her local community, where she is honored to serve on the Board of Directors for USS Yorktown Foundation and the Daniel Island School Parent Teacher Association.

Gray is a Director at Baird, a privately held global financial services firm, and works in their Private Wealth Management business.  He has been in the wealth management industry since 2005.  Originally from Australia, prior to his investment career Gray worked as a Principal at various international business consulting firms in Sydney, Boston, and Atlanta.  Gray served as a Infantry officer in the Australian Army, commanding at the platoon and company level, and his passion for military service and helping veterans is what drew him to the USS Yorktown Foundation.  Gray is a prior Chair of PATRIOT, Baird's Veteran-focused associate resource group and is a Member of the Congressional Medal of Honor Museum Founders Society.

Gray completed his M.B.A. in Finance at Duke University's Fuqua School of Business and his B.A. with Honors in Political Science at the Australian Defense Force Academy, where he was named a Distinguished Graduate.  Gray resides on Daniel Island with his wife Elizabeth and their yellow English Labrador, Sydney.

Emma Dajani is a Vice President at Fifth Third Bank in Charleston, where she delivers tailored commercial banking solutions to Middle Market companies across South Carolina. She brings a wealth of experience from her previous roles, including serving as a Commercial Banker at JPMorgan Chase and working in mergers and acquisitions and private equity at Mill Rock Capital. Emma began her career at Citibank, with positions in both Dallas and New York.

Originally from Chicago, Emma earned her BBA in Finance from Southern Methodist University. She now resides in downtown Charleston with her two dogs and enjoys golfing, pickleball, and gardening in her free time.

Emma is proud to support the USS Yorktown Foundation and is passionate about its mission to educate, inspire, and honor those who have served.

Rear Admiral James H Flatley III enjoyed a very successful career in Naval Aviation, commanding at every level in the operational arena. He was a Navy Test pilot, flew 347 combat missions in Vietnam, commanded the aircraft carrier Saratoga and Carrier Striking Group 8. Twenty-one of his 1608 carrier landings, third highest total in Naval Aviation, were uniquely accomplished in the C-130 Hercules! His recognitions include the Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, Legion of Merit (5 awards), Distinguished Flying Cross (3 awards), Bronze Star, Air medal (30 awards) and the Presidential Unit Citation (2 awards).

Retiring in 1987 after 31 years of naval service, Admiral Flatley has since served his community as he served his country, including 7 years as CEO of Patriots Point Development Authority and Executive Director of Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum, and 28 years as a Roper St Francis Healthcare Trustee.

Jim and Nancy Flatley have been married for 65 years, and are proud parents of six children and 24 grandchildren, many of whom are carrying on the family’s Navy tradition, to include three third-generation fighter pilots, a Navy flight surgeon, a Navy SEAL, four Marine Corps Captains and a Staff Sargent, as well as a Lieutenant-junior grade and an Ensign in Flight Training to become a 4th generation fighter pilots - - THUS FAR!

James H. “Seamus” Flatley, IV is the Senior Vice President of Strategic Sales at Maritime Tactical Systems (MARTAC), Inc. Prior to his current position, Flatley held roles including Chief Operating Officer and Vice President for Business Development at IOMAX USA, a global aerospace and defense company specializing in the modification and delivery of special mission aircraft to international customers. 

Flatley retired from the Navy where he spent the majority of his 22-year career as a naval aviator flying the F-14 Tomcat.  After retirement Flatley served in several positions in the private sector managing international defense related programs for Middle East allies.  As the Chief Growth Officer and later President of Government Services for a defense services company, Flatley cultivated high-performing business development teams, spearheaded successful capture campaigns, and introduced innovative service offerings.

Flatley has a close association with the USS Yorktown.  He is the grandson of the late Vice Admiral James H. “Jimmy” Flatley Jr., who served aboard the USS Yorktown in 1943 as the first air wing commander of Carrier Air Wing FIVE.  Flatley, would himself serve in Carrier Air Wing FIVE from 2000-2003 as the Commanding Officer of an F-14 squadron assigned to the USS Kitty Hawk.   

Flatley graduated from the United States Naval Academy and received a M.A. in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College.  He served as the President of his USNA class for 26 years and served as President of a local chapter of the Tailhook Association, a non-profit organization focused on supporting local charities.

Doug Martin has served as the President of TransPar Group since 2016 and Mercury Associates since 2022. The companies are the leading management and consulting firms dedicated to K-12 student transportation and fleet management and consulting services in North America. The companies serve schools, districts, state and local municipalities, utilities, state departments of education, federal agencies, and commercial entities across the US and Canada. With management operations in Hawaii, Rhode Island, and everywhere in between, Doug has focused the teams on delivering innovative and implementable solutions. Prior to joining TransPar full-time in 2015, Doug served as COO/CFO and Managing Partner of ReefPoint Group, LLC a management consulting firm in Annapolis, Maryland. Doug is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy and served 10 years of active duty as a Naval Flight Officer supporting the Global War on Terrorism, Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, and Southern Watch. He retired as a Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserves in 2020. Doug earned his Master’s in Business Administration degree from Regis University in Denver, Colorado.

Doug Sharp joined the USS Yorktown Foundation's Board of Directors at the beginning of September. Doug is a Principal Advisor with Sharp Advisors, LLC, Board Director of Serendipity Labs, Inc., and Board Advisor with Blue Skyre IBE with over 35 years expertise in commercial real estate including representing investors, users and service providers. His broad background includes corporate real estate services, property management, facilities management, digital services and construction project management. He uses his experience, leadership and communications skills, to solve the most complex client challenges in the CRE industry delivering value, efficiency and effectiveness to their business. He is looking forward to using his broad range of skills to make a positive impact with the USS Yorktown Foundation.