Admiral Zortman served 34 years in the U.S. Navy and was the Commander to the Naval Air Forces, Naval Air Forces Pacific Fleet, Naval Air Forces Atlantic Fleet, and Task Force 50 during Operation Enduring Freedom. He received the Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit (four), the Bronze Star, and the Air Medal.

He is a senior advisor at the Boston Consulting Group, former chair of the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation and San Diego Regional Economic Development Corp., and a trustee to United Through Reading.

Admiral Zortman previously held senior vice president positions at Northrop Grumman Aerospace, and served as a member of the strategic advisory board of Airbus U.S. Space and Defense, Inc.

Admiral Zortman received his Bachelor of Science in Economics from the U.S. Naval Academy and completed a fellowship with the Chief of Naval Operations Strategic Studies Group at the Naval War College.