Jonathan W. Greenert (born May 15, 1953) is a United States Navy

United States Navy

The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...

 admiral

Admiral (United States)

In the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard and the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, admiral is a four-star flag officer rank, with the pay grade of O-10. Admiral ranks above vice admiral and below Fleet Admiral in the Navy; the Coast Guard and the Public Health...

 currently serving as the 30th Chief of Naval Operations

Chief of Naval Operations

The Chief of Naval Operations is a statutory office held by a four-star admiral in the United States Navy, and is the most senior uniformed officer assigned to serve in the Department of the Navy. The office is a military adviser and deputy to the Secretary of the Navy...

. He previously served as the 36th Vice Chief of Naval Operations

Vice Chief of Naval Operations

The Vice Chief of Naval Operations is the second highest ranking officer in the United States Navy. In the event that the Chief of Naval Operations is absent or is unable to perform his duties, the VCNO assumes the duties and responsibilities of the CNO. The VCNO may also perform other duties...

 from August 13, 2009 to August 22, 2011. Prior to that, he served as Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command

Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command

Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command , is the title of the United States Navy officer who serves as the commanding officer of the United States Fleet Forces Command. The U.S. Fleet Forces Command was originally established in 1905 as the U.S. Atlantic Fleet and as a two-star rear admiral's billet,...

 from September 29, 2007 to July 29, 2009, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Integration of Capabilities and Resources from September 2006 to September 2007 and Commander, U.S. Seventh Fleet

United States Seventh Fleet

The Seventh Fleet is the United States Navy's permanent forward projection force based in Yokosuka, Japan, with units positioned near Japan and South Korea. It is a component fleet force under the United States Pacific Fleet. At present, it is the largest of the forward-deployed U.S. fleets, with...

 from August 2004 to September 2006. He assumed his current assignment on September 23, 2011.

Early life and career

A native of the Pittsburgh suburb of Butler, Pennsylvania

Butler, Pennsylvania

The city of Butler is the county seat of Butler County in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, situated north of Pittsburgh. The population was 15,121 at the 2000 census.- History :...

,http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11169/1154681-54.stm he graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy

United States Naval Academy

The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...

 in 1975 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Ocean Engineering

Ocean engineering

Ocean engineering is an ambiguously defined term that may refer to:*Oceanographic engineering, also called marine electronics engineering, concerned with the design of electronic devices for use in the marine environment, such as the remote sensing systems used by oceanographers*Offshore...

 and completed studies in nuclear power for service as a submarine officer

Submarine Warfare insignia

The Submarine Warfare Insignia is a uniform breast pin worn by enlisted men and officers of the United States Navy to indicate that they are qualified in submarines. The Submarine Warfare Insignia is considered one of the Navy's three major warfare pins along with the Surface Warfare Badge and...

.

His career as a submariner included assignments onboard USS Flying Fish (SSN-673)

USS Flying Fish (SSN-673)

USS Flying Fish , a Sturgeon-class attack submarine, was the third ship of the United States Navy to be named for the flying fish, any of number of fishes of tropic and warm temperate seas whose long winglike fins make it possible for them to move some distance through the air.-Construction and...

 as Electrical Material Officer, USS Tautog (SSN-639)

USS Tautog (SSN-639)

USS Tautog , a Sturgeon-class attack submarine, was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for the Tautog , and is found along the Northern Atlantic coast. It seldom exceeds three feet and is usually not larger than ten pounds. The Tautog is favored as a food and game fish...

 as Electrical/Operations Officer, and Submarine NR-1 as Engineer Officer. He served as Executive Officer

Executive officer

An executive officer is generally a person responsible for running an organization, although the exact nature of the role varies depending on the organization.-Administrative law:...

 of USS Michigan (SSBN-727) Gold Crew before taking command of USS Honolulu (SSN-718)

USS Honolulu (SSN-718)

USS Honolulu , was a Los Angeles-class submarine, was the third ship of the United States Navy to be named for Honolulu, Hawaii. The contract to build her was awarded to Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company in Newport News, Virginia on 15 September 1977 and her keel was laid down on 10...

 in March 1991.

Following his command at sea, Greenert served as Commander, Submarine Squadron 11

Submarine Squadron 11

Submarine Squadron 11 is a squadron of submarines based at Point Loma Submarine Base, San Diego, California, United States.- History :...

, and Commander, Submarine Forces Pacific (COMSUBPAC)

ComSubPac

Commander Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet is the principal advisor to the Commander, United States Pacific Fleet for submarine matters. The Pacific Submarine Force includes attack, ballistic missile and auxiliary submarines, submarine tenders, floating submarine docks, deep submergence...

 Representative West Coast from July 1996 to June 1997.

Flag assignments

In July 1997, Greenert reported as Chief of Staff for Commander, U.S. Seventh Fleet, in Yokosuka, Japan

United States Fleet Activities Yokosuka

U.S. Fleet Activities Yokosuka, or Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka is a United States Navy base, in Yokosuka, Japan. Its mission is to maintain and operate base facilities for the logistic, recreational, administrative support and service of the U.S. Naval Forces Japan, U.S. 7th Fleet and...

. During his tour in Japan, he was selected to flag rank and subsequently served as Commander, U.S. Pacific Command, representative to Micronesia

Micronesia

Micronesia is a subregion of Oceania, comprising thousands of small islands in the western Pacific Ocean. It is distinct from Melanesia to the south, and Polynesia to the east. The Philippines lie to the west, and Indonesia to the southwest....

/Commander, U.S. Naval Forces, Marianas, from October 1998 through December 1999. On August 6, 2004, Greenert assumed command of U.S. Seventh Fleet.

Greenert's shore assignments include tours as COMSUBPAC Staff Fire Control Officer, Program Analyst for Office of the Chief of Naval Operations

Chief of Naval Operations

The Chief of Naval Operations is a statutory office held by a four-star admiral in the United States Navy, and is the most senior uniformed officer assigned to serve in the Department of the Navy. The office is a military adviser and deputy to the Secretary of the Navy...

 and the Chief of Naval Operations Strategic Studies Group

Chief of Naval Operations Strategic Studies Group

The Chief of Naval 0perations Strategic Studies Group was established by Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Thomas B. Hayward in 1981. The Group is co-located at the United States Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island, but receives its direction and makes its reports only to the Chief of...

 and Head, Navy Program Planning and Development Branch for the Chief of Naval Operations Staff in Washington, D.C.

He served as Director, Operations Division in the Navy Comptroller Office from January 2000 through August 2002, and as Deputy and Chief of Staff, U.S. Pacific Fleet from August 2002 until July 2004.

On September 23, 2011, Admiral Greenert became the 30th Chief of Naval Operations, succeeding Admiral Gary Roughead

Gary Roughead

Gary Roughead is a retired United States Navy four-star admiral who last served as the 29th Chief of Naval Operations from September 29, 2007 to September 22, 2011. He previously served as Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, from May 17, 2007, to September 29, 2007. Prior to that he served as...

.

Awards and decorations

Greenert's decorations include:

• Submarine Warfare insignia
  Submarine Warfare insignia
  The Submarine Warfare Insignia is a uniform breast pin worn by enlisted men and officers of the United States Navy to indicate that they are qualified in submarines. The Submarine Warfare Insignia is considered one of the Navy's three major warfare pins along with the Surface Warfare Badge and...
  
  
• Deep Submergence insignia
  Deep Submergence insignia
  The Deep Submergence Insignia is a uniform breast pin worn by officers and men of the United States Navy's submarine service who are qualified in submarines and have completed one year of regular assignment to a Manned or Unmanned Deep Submersible...
  
  
• Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge
  Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge
  The Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge is a U.S. Military badge presented to the members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff upon appointment to position as either a Service Head, Vice Chairman, or Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The decoration is also authorized to staff and...
  
  

  	Navy Distinguished Service Medal Navy Distinguished Service Medal The Navy Distinguished Service Medal is a military award of the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps which was first created in 1919. The decoration is the Navy and Marine Corps equivalent to the Army Distinguished Service Medal, the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, and the Coast...  (with 1 silver award star Award star An award star is a decoration issued to personnel of the United States Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard in lieu of multiple awards of the same award. An award star is very similar to an oak leaf cluster, which serves the same purpose in the United States Army and United States Air Force... )
  	Defense Superior Service Medal Defense Superior Service Medal The Defense Superior Service Medal is a senior United States military decoration of the Department of Defense, awarded to members of the United States armed forces who perform "superior meritorious service in a position of significant responsibility."...
  	Legion of Merit Legion of Merit The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...  (with 3 award stars)
  	Meritorious Service Medal Meritorious Service Medal (United States) The Meritorious Service Medal is a military decoration presented to members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguished themselves by outstanding meritorious achievement or service to the United States subsequent to January 16, 1969...  (with 1 award star)
  	Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (with 3 award stars)
  	Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (with 2 award stars)
  	Joint Meritorious Unit Award Joint Meritorious Unit Award The Joint Meritorious Unit Award is a military award that was established on June 4, 1981 by Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger and was implemented by Department of Defense Directive 1348.27 dated July 22, 1982...
  	Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation (with 2 bronze service star Service star A service star, also referred to as a battle star, campaign star, or engagement star, is an attachment to a United States military decoration which denotes participation in military campaigns or multiple bestowals of the same award. Service stars are typically issued for campaign medals, service... s)
  	Navy "E" Ribbon with Wreathed Battle E device
  	Navy Expeditionary Medal Navy Expeditionary Medal The Navy Expeditionary Medal is an award of the United States Navy which was first created in August 1936 by General Orders of the Department of the Navy...  (with 1 service star)
  	National Defense Service Medal National Defense Service Medal The National Defense Service Medal is a military service medal of the United States military originally commissioned by President Dwight D. Eisenhower...  (with 1 service star)
  	Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Global War on Terrorism Service Medal The Global War on Terrorism Service Medal is a military award of the United States military which was created by Executive Order 13289 of President George W. Bush on March 12, 2003...
  	Korea Defense Service Medal Korea Defense Service Medal The Korea Defense Service Medal is a United States military award that was first created in 2002 when it was signed into law by President George W. Bush. The bill to create the proposal was introduced and championed by Rep. Elton Gallegly and Sen. Ben "Night Horse" Campbell...
  	Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (with 3 service stars)
  	Navy & Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon Overseas Service Ribbon An Overseas Service Ribbon is a service military award of the United States military which recognizes those service members who have performed military tours of duty outside the borders of the United States of America. There are different versions of the Overseas Service Ribbons for the U.S. Army,...  (with 2 service stars)
  	Special Operations Service Ribbon Special Operations Service Ribbon The Special Operations Service Ribbon is a decoration of the United States Coast Guard which was first created in July 1987 by order of Commandant of the Coast Guard, Admiral Paul A. Yost Jr. The decoration is authorized for certain acts of non-combat meritorious service, performed in the service...

In 1992, he was awarded the Vice Admiral James Bond Stockdale Award for Inspirational Leadership

Vice Admiral James Bond Stockdale Award for Inspirational Leadership

The Vice Admiral James Bond Stockdale Award for Inspirational Leadership was established in 1980 by United States Secretary of the Navy Edward Hidalgo to honor the inspirational leadership of James Stockdale, U.S. Navy, a Medal of Honor recipient in the Vietnam War, who exhibited exemplary...

 by Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet.

External links

|-