Jim Flatley was born on January 9, 1934, in San Diego, California. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy on January 14, 1951, and entered the U.S. Naval Academy on June 30, 1952. Flatley was commissioned on Ensign in the U.S. Navy on May 31, 1956, and then continued on duty at the Naval Academy until he began Flight Training at NAS Pensacola, Florida, in August 1956. Ensign Flatley transferred to NAS Corpus Christi, Texas, for Advanced Flight Training in July 1957, and he was designated a Naval Aviator on December 7, 1957. His first assignment was as an FJ-3 Fury, F11F Tiger, and then F8U-1E Crusader pilot with VF-33 from December 1957 to January 1962, followed by Test Pilot School at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, from January to November 1962. LT Flatley was assigned as a Test Pilot with the Naval Air Test Center at NAS Patuxent River from November 1962 to January 1965, and during this time he made history when he completed 21 full-stop landings and takeoffs in a U.S. Marine Corps Lockheed KC-130F Hercules aboard the aircraft carrier USS Forrestal (CVA-59) in November 1963. This is the largest and heaviest aircraft ever to land or take off from an aircraft carrier. His next assignment was as a Landing Signal Officer and Assistant Operations Officer with Carrier Air Wing 3 (CVW-3) aboard the aircraft carrier USS Saratoga (CVA-60) from February 1965 to April 1967, followed by F-4 Phantom II Replacement Air Group Training with VF-121 at NAS Miramar, California, from April to August 1967. LCDR Flatley served as an F-4B pilot, Safety Officer, and Maintenance Officer with VF-213 at NAS Miramar from August 1967 to July 1969, and during this time he deployed with his squadron aboard the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63) for combat in Vietnam from December 1967 to May 1968, and from January to July 1969. He attended Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell AFB, Alabama, from July 1969 to July 1970, and then served as Inspection Coordinator and Assistant Operations Officer with Commander Fleet Air Norfolk, Virginia, from August to December 1970. CDR Flatley next attended F-4J Replacement Air Group Training with VF-101 at NAS Oceana, Virginia, from January to May 1971, followed by service as Executive Officer of VF-31 NAS Oceana from May 1971 to May 1972, and as Commanding Officer of VF-31 from May 1972 to May 1973. During this time he deployed with his squadron aboard the aircraft carrier USS Saratoga (CV-60) for combat in Vietnam from May 1972 to January 1973. He served as Fighter Training Coordinator with Commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic, at NAS Norfolk, Virginia, from June 1973 to September 1974, and then attended Refresher Replacement Air Group Training from September 1974 to January 1975. CAPT Flatley next served as Commander of CVW-7 aboard the aircraft carrier USS Independence (CV-62) from February 1975 to March 1976, followed by service as Shipboard Training Officer with Commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic, at NAS Norfolk, from April to September 1976. He attended the Surface Warfare Officers School at Newport, Rhode Island, and the Senior Officers' Ships Material Readiness Course at Idaho Falls, Idaho, from October 1976 to February 1977, and then served as Commanding Officer of the fleet oiler USS Caloosahatchee (AO-98) from February 1977 to July 1978. His next assignment was as Executive Assistant to the Vice Chief of Naval Operations at the Pentagon from August 1978 to May 1979, followed by service as Commanding Officer of the aircraft carrier USS Saratoga (CV-60) from July 1979 to October 1981. Rear Admiral Flatley served as Commander of Naval Training Center Great Lakes, Illinois, from October 1981 to March 1983, and then as Commander of Carrier Group EIGHT from March 1983 to May 1985. His next assignment was as Director of the Strike and Amphibious Warfare Division at the Pentagon from May 1985 until his retirement from the Navy on August 1, 1987, and during this time he also served as Deputy Director of Naval Warfare from July 1986 to July 1987. RADM Flatley was the first U.S. Naval Aviator to accumulate 1,600 carrier landings, and he ended his carrier with 1,608 carrier landings, 4,460 total flight hours, and 346 combat missions during 3 combat tours in Vietnam. RADM Flatley's father, Vice Admiral James H. Flatley, Jr. (1906-1958), was the first Air Group Commander aboard the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown (CV-10) during World War II, and was an Ace with 6 enemy aircraft destroyed during that war.

His Silver Star Citation reads:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy as a Pilot of jet aircraft while serving as Commanding Officer of Fighter Squadron THIRTY-ONE, embarked in U.S.S. SARATOGA (CV-60). On 19 August 1972, Commander Flatley planned and led a forty-five plane air wing strike against two strategically important highway bridges and a large warehouse and storage complex located near a heavily defended city in Southeast Asia. Imaginative and tactically innovative planning enabled the strike group, in the face of intense enemy opposition and rapidly deteriorating weather to execute a devastating attack on the assigned targets. Displaying exceptional heroism and skilled airmanship, Commander Flatley led the strike group to the target despite numerous surface-to-air missile launches, constant radar controlled anti-aircraft artillery and automatic weapons fire to place all weapons on target. Post-strike photography revealed the destruction of two bridges which were vital links in the enemy’s major east/west transportation route and the total devastation of the huge warehouse and storage complex containing more than thirty large buildings. Commander Flatley’s superb airmanship, courage and devotion to duty reflected great credit upon himself and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.