Ronald A. Route
Encyclopedia
Ronald A. Route is a retired Vice Admiral
and former Inspector General
of the United States Navy
.
A native of Denver, Colorado
, Route graduated from the United States Naval Academy
in 1971, and subsequently completed a series of command and leadership assignments both within the Navy and in the Joint Service arena. He has commanded USS Dewey (DDG-45)
, USS Lake Erie (CG-70)
, Cruiser Destroyer Group Two and the USS George Washington
(CVN 73) Battle Group. In addition to his afloat commands, he has served at sea with Cruiser Destroyer Group Two and Destroyer Squadron Four, and in USS Halsey (CG-23), USS Roark (FF-1053)
, USS Wainwright (CG-28), and USS Barry (DD-933)
.
Ashore, Route has commanded the Navy Warfare Development Command
(NWDC) and the Naval War College
. He was the 50th officer to serve as President of the Naval War College
since it was founded in 1884. His other flag assignments include two tours on the Chief of Naval Operations
staff, first as Director, Politico-Military Affairs Division (N52) and later as Director, Navy Programming Division (N80) where he developed and prioritized a multi-year spending plan for the Navy's $80–$100 billion annual budget. Route assumed his duties as the Naval Inspector General in August 2004.
Route's Pentagon
assignments have also included Executive Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of the Navy
(Manpower and Reserve Affairs) for three Assistant Secretaries in two administrations, Long Range Planner and Surface Ship Readiness analyst in the Chief of Naval Operations's Program Resource Appraisal Division (now N81), and Naval Warfare Analyst in the Joint Analysis Directorate (now part of J-8), within the Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
.
, and a Master of Science degree in Operations Research
from the Naval Postgraduate School
. Selected for a Navy Federal Executive Fellowship in 1996, he completed a year-long assignment as a Military Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations
in New York City and subsequently was invited to become a Council member in June 1998.
, the Legion of Merit
(six awards), the Defense Meritorious Service Medal
, the Meritorious Service Medal
(four awards), the Navy Commendation Medal (three awards), and the Navy Achievement Medal (two awards).
Vice admiral (United States)
In the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard, the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corps, and the United States Maritime Service, vice admiral is a three-star flag officer, with the pay grade of...
and former Inspector General
Inspector General
An Inspector General is an investigative official in a civil or military organization. The plural of the term is Inspectors General.-Bangladesh:...
of the 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...
.
A native of Denver, Colorado
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
, Route graduated from the United States 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 1971, and subsequently completed a series of command and leadership assignments both within the Navy and in the Joint Service arena. He has commanded USS Dewey (DDG-45)
USS Dewey (DDG-45)
USS Dewey was a ship in the United States Naval Service. She was named to honor George Dewey, the United States' only Admiral of the Navy. She was the third of four ships whose namesake was Admiral Dewey. The ship's motto was The First and Finest.-Construction and design:Dewey was laid down 10...
, USS Lake Erie (CG-70)
USS Lake Erie (CG-70)
USS Lake Erie is a Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser in the United States Navy. She is named for the decisive USN victory in the Battle of Lake Erie during the War of 1812....
, Cruiser Destroyer Group Two and the USS George Washington
USS George Washington (CVN-73)
USS George Washington is an American nuclear-powered supercarrier, the sixth ship in the Nimitz class and the fourth United States Navy ship to be named after George Washington, the first President of the United States...
(CVN 73) Battle Group. In addition to his afloat commands, he has served at sea with Cruiser Destroyer Group Two and Destroyer Squadron Four, and in USS Halsey (CG-23), USS Roark (FF-1053)
USS Roark (FF-1053)
USS Roark , originally designated DE-1053, was a Knox class frigate named for William Marshall Roark. Roark was laid down on 2 February 1966 by the Todd Shipyards Corporation in Seattle, Washington; launched on 24 April 1967, sponsored by Mrs. William M. Roark and Mrs. Frank F. Roark; and...
, USS Wainwright (CG-28), and USS Barry (DD-933)
USS Barry (DD-933)
USS Barry was one of eighteen Forrest Sherman-class destroyers of the United States Navy, and was the third US destroyer to be named for Commodore John Barry. Commissioned in 1954, she spent most of her career in the Caribbean, Atlantic, and Mediterranean, but also served in the Vietnam War,...
.
Ashore, Route has commanded the Navy Warfare Development Command
Navy Warfare Development Command
The mission of the United States Navy Navy Warfare Development Command is stated thus: "NWDC serves as the Navy’s champion for the rapid generation and development of innovative, game changing solutions in concepts and doctrine to enhance maritime capability at the operational level across the...
(NWDC) and the Naval War College
Naval War College
The Naval War College is an education and research institution of the United States Navy that specializes in developing ideas for naval warfare and passing them along to officers of the Navy. The college is located on the grounds of Naval Station Newport in Newport, Rhode Island...
. He was the 50th officer to serve as President of the Naval War College
President of the Naval War College
The President of the Naval War College is a flag officer in the United States Navy. The President's House is his official residence.Since the Korean War, all presidents of the Naval War College have been vice admirals or rear admirals.-Presidents:...
since it was founded in 1884. His other flag assignments include two tours on 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...
staff, first as Director, Politico-Military Affairs Division (N52) and later as Director, Navy Programming Division (N80) where he developed and prioritized a multi-year spending plan for the Navy's $80–$100 billion annual budget. Route assumed his duties as the Naval Inspector General in August 2004.
Route's Pentagon
The Pentagon
The Pentagon is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, located in Arlington County, Virginia. As a symbol of the U.S. military, "the Pentagon" is often used metonymically to refer to the Department of Defense rather than the building itself.Designed by the American architect...
assignments have also included Executive Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of the Navy
Assistant Secretary of the Navy
Assistant Secretary of the Navy is the title given to certain civilian senior officials in the United States Department of the Navy....
(Manpower and Reserve Affairs) for three Assistant Secretaries in two administrations, Long Range Planner and Surface Ship Readiness analyst in the Chief of Naval Operations's Program Resource Appraisal Division (now N81), and Naval Warfare Analyst in the Joint Analysis Directorate (now part of J-8), within the Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Joint Chiefs of Staff
The Joint Chiefs of Staff is a body of senior uniformed leaders in the United States Department of Defense who advise the Secretary of Defense, the Homeland Security Council, the National Security Council and the President on military matters...
.
Education
Route holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Systems Engineering from the U.S. Naval AcademyUnited States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
, and a Master of Science degree in Operations Research
Operations research
Operations research is an interdisciplinary mathematical science that focuses on the effective use of technology by organizations...
from the Naval Postgraduate School
Naval Postgraduate School
The Naval Postgraduate School is an accredited research university operated by the United States Navy. Located in Monterey, California, it grants master's degrees, Engineer's degrees and doctoral degrees...
. Selected for a Navy Federal Executive Fellowship in 1996, he completed a year-long assignment as a Military Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations
Council on Foreign Relations
The Council on Foreign Relations is an American nonprofit nonpartisan membership organization, publisher, and think tank specializing in U.S. foreign policy and international affairs...
in New York City and subsequently was invited to become a Council member in June 1998.
Awards and decorations
His personal decorations include: the Distinguished Service MedalDistinguished Service Medal (United States)
The Distinguished Service Medal is the highest non-valorous military and civilian decoration of the United States military which is issued for exceptionally meritorious service to the government of the United States in either a senior government service position or as a senior officer of the United...
, the 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...
(six awards), the Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
The Defense Meritorious Service Medal is the third-highest award bestowed upon members of the United States military by the United States Department of Defense...
, the 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...
(four awards), the Navy Commendation Medal (three awards), and the Navy Achievement Medal (two awards).
Navy Distinguished Service MedalNavy Distinguished Service MedalThe 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...
Legion of MeritLegion of MeritThe 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 one Silver Star
Defense Meritorious Service MedalDefense Meritorious Service MedalThe Defense Meritorious Service Medal is the third-highest award bestowed upon members of the United States military by the United States Department of Defense...
Meritorious Service MedalMeritorious 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...
Navy and Marine Corps Commendation MedalCommendation MedalThe Commendation Medal is a mid-level United States military decoration which is presented for sustained acts of heroism or meritorious service. For valorous actions in direct contact with an enemy force, but of a lesser degree than required for the award of the Bronze Star, the Valor device may...
with two Gold Stars
Navy and Marine Corps Achievement MedalAchievement MedalThe Achievement Medal is a military decoration of the United States military. The Achievement Medal was first proposed as a means to recognize the contributions of junior officers and enlisted personnel who were not eligible to receive the higher Commendation Medal or the Meritorious Service...
with Gold Star