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Christopher W. Grady

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Christopher W. Grady
Official portrait, 2021
Born (1962-11-28) 28 November 1962 (age 62)
Portsmouth, Virginia, U.S.
AllegianceUnited States
Service / branchUnited States Navy
Years of service1984–present
RankAdmiral
CommandsVice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
United States Fleet Forces Command
United States Naval Forces Northern Command
United States Naval Forces Strategic Command
Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO
United States Sixth Fleet
Carrier Strike Group 1
Destroyer Squadron 22
USS Cole (DDG 67)
USS Ardent (MCM 12)
USS Chief (MCM 14)
Battles / warsGulf War
War in Afghanistan
Iraq War
AwardsDefense Distinguished Service Medal
Navy Distinguished Service Medal
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit (5)
Alma materUniversity of Notre Dame (BA)
Georgetown University (MA)
National Defense University (MS)

Christopher Watson Grady (born 28 November 1962)[1][2] is a United States Navy admiral who is currently serving as the 12th vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff since 20 December 2021.[3]

Grady most recently served as the commander of United States Fleet Forces Command and United States Naval Forces Northern Command from May 2018 to December 2021, with additional duties as commander of United States Naval Forces Strategic Command and Joint Force Maritime Component Commander from February 2019. He previously served as commander of the United States Sixth Fleet, commander of Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO, deputy commander of United States Naval Forces Europe - Naval Forces Africa and Joint Force Maritime Component Commander Europe from October 2016 to March 2018.

A 1984 graduate of the University of Notre Dame, Grady was commissioned into the Navy via the Naval Reserve Officers' Training Corps program. He is now the Navy's "Old Salt", its longest-serving surface warfare officer on active duty, having received the title and accompanying trophy from Admiral Philip S. Davidson on 20 April 2021.[4]

[edit]
Rear Adm. Grady, as commander, Carrier Strike Group 1, prepares food on Thanksgiving dinner for sailors aboard the USS Carl Vinson, 27 November 2014

Christopher Grady was born in Portsmouth, Virginia[1] and raised in Newport, Rhode Island. He is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame,[5] and was commissioned an ensign in the United States Navy through the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps program in 1984.[6] Grady is a distinguished graduate of Georgetown University, where he earned a Master of Arts in National Security Studies while concurrently participating as a fellow in Foreign Service at the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service. He is also a distinguished graduate of the National War College of National Defense University, earning a Master of Science in National Security Affairs.[7]

Grady's initial sea tour was aboard USS Moosbrugger (DD 980), where he served as combat information center officer and anti-submarine warfare officer. As a department head, he served as weapons control officer and combat systems officer in USS Princeton (CG 59). He was the commanding officer of Mine Counter Measure Rotational Crew Echo in USS Chief (MCM 14), and deployed to the Persian Gulf in command of USS Ardent (MCM 12). Grady then commanded USS Cole (DDG 67) deploying as part of NATO's Standing Naval Forces Mediterranean. He then commanded Destroyer Squadron 22, deploying to the Persian Gulf as sea combat commander for the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group (TRCSG) in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

Vice Adm. Grady visits the Lindormen-class support vessel EML Wambola (A433) during exercise BALTOPS 2017, 10 June 2017

Ashore, Grady first served on the staff of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and then as naval aide to the chief of naval operations. He also served on the staff of the chief of naval operations as assistant branch head, Europe and Eurasia Politico-Military Affairs Branch (OPNAV N524). He then served as executive assistant to the navy's Chief of Legislative Affairs. Next, he served as the deputy executive secretary of the National Security Council in the White House. He then went on to serve as the executive assistant to the chief of naval operations.

Grady's flag assignments include the Director of the Maritime Operations Center (N2/3/5/7), commander, United States Pacific Fleet; Commander, Carrier Strike Group 1 and the Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group, where he deployed for nearly ten months to the Western Pacific and the Persian Gulf conducting combat operations in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. He was then commander of Naval Surface Force Atlantic.

Grady is sworn in as the 12th vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff by Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on 20 December 2021

As a vice admiral, he commanded the United States Sixth Fleet from 28 October 2016[8] to 1 March 2018, relinquishing command to Vice Admiral Lisa Franchetti.[9] On 31 October 2017, the United States Senate confirmed Grady's reappointment to the rank of vice admiral and assignment as the assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.[10][11]

On 28 February 2018, Grady was nominated by President Donald Trump for appointment to the rank of admiral and assignment as commander of United States Fleet Forces Command,[12] and confirmed by the Senate on 22 March 2018.[13] He assumed command of USFFC and Naval Forces Northern Command on 4 May 2018[14] and of commander, Naval Forces Strategic Command (NAVSTRAT) and United States Strategic Command Joint Force Maritime Component Command (JFMCC) on 1 February 2019.[15][16]

Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

[edit]

On 1 November 2021, he was nominated by President Joe Biden to succeed retiring General John E. Hyten as the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.[17][18] A nomination hearing was scheduled for 2 December 2021, but it was postponed in favor of Senate negotiations on the 2022 NDAA.[19] He was confirmed by voice vote on 16 December 2021,[18] and was sworn in on 20 December 2021.[20]

Personal life

[edit]

Grady and his wife Christine, married around 1985, have three children and a daughter-in-law.[21]

Awards and decorations

[edit]
Grady accepts the 'Old Salt' Award on board USS Cole (DDG 67) on 30 April 2021

In addition to the below, the University of Notre Dame Alumni Board presented Grady with the Rev. William Corby, C.S.C., Award on 28 September 2019. Established in 1985, the award is conferred on alumni who have distinguished themselves in military service.[22]

Other accoutrements
Surface Warfare Officer Insignia
Command at Sea insignia
Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge
Presidential Service Badge
Personal decorations
Defense Distinguished Service Medal[23]
Navy Distinguished Service Medal
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit with four gold award stars
Meritorious Service Medal with four award stars
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Combat V and three award stars
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Unit Awards
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Bronze star
Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation with one bronze service star
Navy "E" Ribbon with three Battle "E" devices
Campaign and service medals
Navy Expeditionary Medal
Bronze star
National Defense Service Medal with service star
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Bronze star
Southwest Asia Service Medal with service star
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Silver star
Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with silver service star
Foreign and international awards
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)
Marksmanship awards
Navy Expert Rifleman Medal
Navy Expert Pistol Shot Medal
  • Surface Navy Association's "Old Salt" Award [4]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Certificate of Birth". Births, 1864-2016. No. 78915. Richmond, Virginia: Virginia Department of Health. 1962.
  2. ^ Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy on Active Duty. Bureau of Naval Personnel. 1 October 1990. p. 96. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
  3. ^ Mahshie, Abraham (17 December 2021). "Adm. Grady Confirmed as Joint Chiefs Vice Chair, Filling Monthlong Vacancy". Air Force Magazine. Archived from the original on 18 December 2021. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  4. ^ a b Macchietto, Brooke (1 May 2021). "FLEET FORCES COMMANDER BECOMES NAVY'S 'OLD SALT'". U.S. Fleet Forces Command. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  5. ^ "University of Notre Dame du Lac 1984 Commencement | May 18–20" (PDF). p. 31. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  6. ^ Admiral Christopher Grady ‘84 – Notre Dame Day 2018
  7. ^ "Admiral Christopher W. Grady". US Navy. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  8. ^ LaGrone, Sam (28 October 2016). "Vice Adm. Grady Takes Command of U.S. 6th Fleet". USNI News. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  9. ^ Wyland, Scott (1 March 2018). "Franchetti takes command of 6th Fleet". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  10. ^ Flag Officer Announcement – October 17, 2017
  11. ^ PN1122 — Vice Adm. Christopher W. Grady — Navy
  12. ^ Flag Officer Announcement – February 28, 2018
  13. ^ PN1667 — Vice Adm. Christopher W. Grady — Navy
  14. ^ US Navy Biography – Admiral Christopher W. Grady
  15. ^ – Grady's Bio
  16. ^ US Fleet Forces Commander Designated as NAVSTRAT, JFMCC STRAT
  17. ^ "Flag Officer Announcement". U.S. Department of Defense. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  18. ^ a b "PN1328 — Adm. Christopher W. Grady — Navy". congress.gov. 1 November 2021. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
  19. ^ "Nomination - Grady (Postponed)". US Senate Committee on Armed Services. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  20. ^ Mahshie, Abraham (20 December 2021). "Adm. Christopher W. Grady Sworn in as Vice Chairman of Joint Chiefs". Air Force Magazine. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
  21. ^ "Christine Grady, family knowledge and cuisine specialist", MilitaryNews.com
  22. ^ "Admiral Grady Receives Rev. William Colby Award". DVIDS. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  23. ^ Christopher W. Grady (8 December 2021). U.S. Fleet Forces Change of Command. USS George H.W. Bush: U.S. Fleet Forces Command. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
Military offices
Preceded by Director of Maritime Operations of the United States Pacific Fleet
2011–2014
Succeeded by
Preceded by Commander of Carrier Strike Group 1
2014–2015
Succeeded by
Preceded by Commander of Naval Surface Force Atlantic
2015–2016
Succeeded by
Preceded by Commander of the United States Sixth Fleet and Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO
2016–2018
Succeeded by
Preceded by Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
2018
Succeeded by
Preceded by Commander of the United States Fleet Forces Command
2018–2021
Succeeded by
Preceded by Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
2021–present
Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded byas former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (2019–2023) Order of precedence of the United States
as Vice Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Succeeded byas Chief of Space Operations