Jonathan William Greenert (born May 15, 1953)[1] is a former United States Navy admiral who served as the 30th Chief of Naval Operations from September 23, 2011, to September 18, 2015. He previously served as the 36th Vice Chief of Naval Operations from August 13, 2009, to August 22, 2011.[2] Prior to that, he served as Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command 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 of U.S. Seventh Fleet from August 2004 to September 2006. He retired from the navy after over 40 years of service. In March 2016, the National Bureau of Asian Research announced that Greenert would become the third holder of the John M. Shalikashvili Chair in National Security Studies (Shali Chair) at NBR.[3] In April 2016, Greenert was appointed to the board of directors for BAE Systems for a three-year term.[4]

Jonathan Greenert
Born (1953-05-15) May 15, 1953 (age 70)
Butler, Pennsylvania, US
Service/branchUnited States Navy
Years of service1975–2015
RankAdmiral
Commands heldChief of Naval Operations
Vice Chief of Naval Operations
United States Fleet Forces Command
United States Seventh Fleet
Submarine Squadron 11
United States Naval Forces Marianas
USS Honolulu
AwardsDefense Distinguished Service Medal
Navy Distinguished Service Medal (6)
Army Distinguished Service Medal
Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit (4)

Early life and education edit

Born in the Pittsburgh suburb of Butler, Pennsylvania, on May 15, 1953,[5] Greenert attended Butler Catholic School and Butler Senior High School. While in high school, he participated in Pennsylvania Keystone Boys State, an American Legion leadership program.[6] He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1975 with a Bachelor of Science degree in ocean engineering and completed studies in nuclear power for service as a submarine officer.[7]

Naval career edit

 
Greenert escorting Jimmy Buffett on a tour of Pearl Harbor in June 2003.

Greenert's career as a submariner included assignments on board USS Flying Fish as electrical material officer, USS Tautog as electrical/operations officer, and submarine NR-1 as engineer officer. He served as executive officer of USS Michigan's Gold Crew before taking command of USS Honolulu in March 1991. In 1992, he was awarded the Vice Admiral James Bond Stockdale Award for Inspirational Leadership by the commander of United States Pacific Fleet.

Following his command at sea, Greenert served as commander of Submarine Squadron 11, and Commander, Submarine Forces Pacific (COMSUBPAC) Representative West Coast from July 1996 to June 1997.

Flag assignments edit

In July 1997, Greenert reported as chief of staff for Commander, United States Seventh Fleet, in Yokosuka, Japan. During his tour in Japan, he was selected for flag rank and subsequently served as commander of United States Pacific Command, representative to Micronesia/Commander, U.S. Naval Forces, Marianas, from October 1998 through December 1999. On August 6, 2004, Greenert assumed command of Seventh Fleet.

 
Greenert takes part in a bread and salt ceremony, a traditional Slavic welcoming ceremony, after arriving in Vladivostok, Russia, July 3, 2006.

Greenert's shore assignments include tours as COMSUBPAC staff fire control officer, program analyst for Office of the Chief of Naval Operations and the Chief of Naval Operations Strategic Studies Group and head of Navy Program Planning and Development Branch for the Chief of Naval Operations Staff in Washington, D.C. He served as director of the Operations Division in the Navy Comptroller Office from January 2000 through August 2002, and as deputy and chief of staff of U.S. Pacific Fleet from August 2002 until July 2004.

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

Post-retirement edit

On March 3, 2016, the National Bureau of Asian Research announced that Greenert would become the third holder of the John M. Shalikashvili Chair in National Security Studies (Shali Chair) at NBR.[3] At NBR, Greenert brings to bear his years of experience in the U.S. Navy to help inform policy debates on critical issues pertaining to the Asia-Pacific through briefings of senior leaders, and research and writing.

The board chairman of Arlington-based BAE Systems Inc., Michael Chertoff, a former secretary of Homeland Security, announced on April 19, 2016, that retired Greenert was appointed to the board of directors for BAE Systems for a three-year term. "Admiral Greenert brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise from a distinguished, 40-year career as a senior military officer and government leader," Chertoff said in a statement. "His experience in management, operations, and strategic planning will be highly valuable, and I'm pleased to welcome him to the board."[8]

Awards and decorations edit

 
 
   
        
        
       
 
          
     
     
 
   
 
Submarine Warfare insignia (Officer)[9]
Defense Distinguished Service Medal[10]
Navy Distinguished Service Medal with 1 silver award star Army Distinguished Service Medal[11] Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit with 3 award stars
Meritorious Service Medal 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 Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation with 2 bronze service stars Navy "E" Ribbon with Wreathed Battle E device
Navy Expeditionary Medal with 1 service star National Defense Service Medal with 1 service star Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Korea Defense Service Medal Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with 3 service stars Navy & Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon with 2 service stars
Special Operations Service Ribbon Meritorious Service Medal (Military) (Singapore) May 13, 2013 Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun (Japan) May 26, 2014
Commander of the Order of Naval Merit (Brazil) September 16, 2014 Grand Cross of the Order of Naval Merit Admiral Padilla (Colombia) January 18, 2015 Navy Expert Pistol Shot Medal
Officer Deep Submergence insignia
Silver SSBN Deterrent Patrol insignia with two gold stars
Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge

Family edit

Greenert is married to Darleen Greenert, who was the Sponsor for the pre-commissioning unit (PCU) USS Hyman G. Rickover (SSN-795), and christened the ship during a ceremony at General Dynamics Electric Boat shipyard facility in Groton, Connecticut, on 31 July 2021.[12]

References edit

  This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Navy

  1. ^ Marquis Who's Who on the Web
  2. ^ J. W. Greenert (August 13, 2009). "VICE CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS CHANGE OF OFFICE". U.S. Department of the Navy, Office of the Vice Chief of Naval Operations. Retrieved August 17, 2009.[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ a b "Reference at www.nbr.org" (PDF).
  4. ^ Christopher P. Cavas (April 19, 2016). "Former CNO Greenert Named To BAE Board". Defense News. Retrieved April 20, 2016.
  5. ^ <<<=theobj.bylinetime>>>. "New chief of naval operations a Steelers fan and a 'regular guy' | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette". Post-gazette.com. Retrieved June 14, 2017.
  6. ^ Andrew Carr, "Chief of Naval Operations speaks at Keystone Boys State graduation," The [Cumberland] Sentinel, June 27, 2015, "Reference at cumberlink.com".
  7. ^ "New chief of naval operations a Steelers fan and a 'regular guy'". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. June 18, 2011.
  8. ^ Brian Roehrkasse (April 19, 2016). "Admiral Jonathan Greenert Joins BAE Systems, Inc. Board of Directors" (Press release). Business Wire. Retrieved April 20, 2016.
  9. ^ "Hall of Valor — Valor awards for Jonathan William Greenert". Military Times.
  10. ^ "Reference at news.usni.org".
  11. ^ "Richardson Becomes New Chief of Naval Operations; Greenert Retires After 40 Years". USNI. September 18, 2015.
  12. ^ "Navy christens 2nd submarine in honor of Adm. Rickover". August 2, 2021., The Associated Press/Navy Times, 2021-08-02

External links edit

Military offices
Preceded by Commander of the United States Seventh Fleet
2004–2006
Succeeded by
Preceded by Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Integration of Capabilities and Resources
2006–2007
Succeeded by
Preceded by Commander of United States Fleet Forces Command
2007–2009
Succeeded by
Preceded by Vice Chief of Naval Operations
2009–2011
Succeeded by
Preceded by Chief of Naval Operations
2011–2015
Succeeded by