Final answer:
Lt. Theodore Ellyson was the first aviator of the United States Navy and a significant player in advancing naval aviation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The first aviator of the United States Navy was Lt. Theodore Ellyson. Ellyson was designated as Naval Aviator Number One after completing his aviation training in the early 20th century. He was a pivotal figure in the development of naval aviation, helping to establish practices and standards that would shape the future of military aviation. While the reference material provided discusses the heroics of Soviet aviator Valerii Pavlovich Chkalov and other history, it does not pertain directly to the question about the Navy's first aviator. Nonetheless, the achievements of the Navy's first aviators were every bit as noteworthy and form an essential chapter in the broader history of aviation.