Dennis Chalker

Dennis Chalker (born July 28, 1954) is a retired Navy SEAL, inventor, and author who has written six books about the United States Navy SEALs.

Career Chalker began his military service with the U.S. Army, serving in the 82nd Airborne Division from 1972 till 1975. Upon discharge he tried his hand at a few civilian jobs and found them less than challenging. Chalker then joined the United States Navy in 1977. Chalker graduated from Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training class 101 in Coronado, Ca. Following SEAL Tactical Training and completion of a six month probationary period, he received the NEC 5326 as a Combatant Swimmer (SEAL), entitled to wear the Special Warfare Insignia. Chalker initially served with SEAL Team ONE and was later hand-selected by Commander Richard Marcinko in 1980 to become a plankowner of the Navy's first dedicated counter-terrorist unit, SEAL Team Six. As a member of SEAL Team Six, he participated in Operation Urgent Fury in the US Invasion of Grenada. His team reached then Governor General Paul Scoon's mansion and held it for an entire day while being attacked by a force of Grenadians and Cubans.

As a SEAL, Chalker saw action in Haiti (recounted in his book One Perfect Op), El Salvador, and Panama.

When Marcinko was tasked to select members for a new unit to test security at US Naval bases against the threat of terrorism, he once again chose Chalker as one of the founding members in 1985. This unit was called Naval Security Coordination Team, also known as Red Cell. Chalker is credited for inventing and developing a tactical rifle and submachine gun single-point sling known as the Chalker Sling while at SEAL Team Six. The Chalker Sling attaches the long gun to the shooter via a harness which enables the operator to quickly transition to a secondary weapon or perform another task while using both hands and keeping the weapon in a close-ready position as the weapon "hangs" from the chest, leaving just enough slack to be able to quickly bring it to firing position with little effort.

Since retiring from the Navy, Chalker has authored six books, three fiction and three non-fiction with Kevin Dockery about life as a Navy SEAL.