Dr. Walt East is a Church Mobilizer and Resource Strategist with the Activate(D) Team of NOVO.org.

He has been married to Lou Ann since 1980. They have 2 daughters and 1 son, as well as 8 grandchildren and a great-granddaughter. Walt attended The Ohio State University on a four-year Navy ROTC scholarship, graduating with a BA in International Affairs (Soviet Union and Eastern Europe). He holds advanced degrees from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (MDiv) and Fuller Theological Seminary (DMin). He is also a graduate of the US Air Force Command and Staff College as well as the Joint Forces Staff College where he was served as faculty. 

Walt served as a naval officer for 11 years receiving his call to ministry while serving as a Naval officer in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. After graduating from seminary, he became a Navy chaplain and served aboard numerous ships, with the U.S. Marine Corps, and the U.S. Coast Guard. His final posting was Force Chaplain for Commander Naval Surface Forces Atlantic where he oversaw the ministry of 48 chaplains to more than 25,000 sailors and their family members. During his time in the Navy, Walt served as a teaching pastor and consultant to many churches.  

After more than 30 years active service in the Navy he served for 12 years as the Lead Chaplain at Sky Valley Chapel, near Palm Springs, CA. While at Sky Valley, Walt and Lou helped launch Legacy Coalition, an international grandparenting ministry. He also began a Podcast ministry reaching over 22 countries with nearly 19,000 plays and 5,000 downloads in 2022.

In 2022, Walt joined the Activate(D) Team of NOVO as a support-raising missionary, coaching pastors and churches. In 2023 the East’s transitioned back to Jacksonville, FL where they now live and minister. Walt’s desire is to serve pastors and the local church as he challenges them and assists in “Making Disciples and Advancing the Kingdom.”