John C. Aquilino

Last updated
John C. Aquilino
ADM John C. Aquilino (USINDOPACOM).jpg
Birth nameJohn Christopher Aquilino
Nickname(s)Lung [1]
Born1961 (age 6263)
Huntington, New York, U.S.
AllegianceUnited States
Service/branch United States Navy
Years of service1984–2024
Rank Admiral
Commands
Battles/wars
Awards
Alma mater United States Naval Academy (BS)

John Christopher Aquilino [2] (born 1961) [3] is a retired United States Navy admiral who last served as the commander of United States Indo-Pacific Command from 2021 to 2024. [4] He previously served as the commander of the United States Pacific Fleet [5] and before that, commander of the United States Fifth Fleet and Combined Maritime Forces.

Contents

Aquilino was also the Navy's Old Goat, the longest serving United States Naval Academy graduate on active duty, having received the title and accompanying decanter from James F. Caldwell Jr. on January 9, 2024. [6]

Aquilino relieves Adm. Philip S. Davidson as INDOPACOM commander on April 30, 2021. U.S. INDO-PACIFIC COMMAND CHANGE OF COMMAND CEREMONY 6624902.jpg
Aquilino relieves Adm. Philip S. Davidson as INDOPACOM commander on April 30, 2021.

Aquilino graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1984, earning a Bachelor of Science in Physics. He subsequently entered flight training and earned his wings in August 1986. Aquilino graduated from the Navy Fighter Weapons School (Top Gun) and the Joint Forces Staff College, and completed Harvard Kennedy School's Executive Education Program in National and International Security. [7]

Aquilino's operational assignments include numerous fighter squadrons flying the F-14 A/B Tomcat and the F/A-18 C/E/F Hornet. His fleet assignments include the Ghost Riders of Fighter Squadron (VF) 142 and the Black Aces of VF-41. He commanded the Red Rippers of VF-11, Carrier Air Wing 2 and Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 2/George H.W. Bush Strike Group. He has made extended deployments in support of Operations Deny Flight, Deliberate Force, Southern Watch, Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. [7]

Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman meets with Aquilino in Honolulu in June 2021. Deputy Secretary Sherman and INDOPACOM Commander Admiral John Aquilino.jpg
Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman meets with Aquilino in Honolulu in June 2021.

Aquilino's shore tour assignments include duties as an adversary instructor pilot flying the A-4, F-5 and F-16N aircraft for the Challengers of VF-43; operations officer of Strike Weapons and Tactics School, Atlantic; flag aide to the vice chief of naval operations; special assistant for weapons and advanced development in the Office of the Legislative Affairs for the Secretary of Defense; director of air wing readiness and training for Commander, Naval Air Forces, Atlantic Fleet; and executive assistant to the commander, United States Fleet Forces Command. [7]

Aquilino's flag assignments include director of strategy and policy (J5), United States Joint Forces Command; deputy director, joint force coordinator (J31), the Joint Staff; commander, CSG-2, director of maritime operations, United States Pacific Fleet (N04); deputy chief of naval operations for operations, plans and strategy (N3/N5); and as commander, United States Naval Forces Central Command, United States 5th Fleet, Combined Maritime Forces. [7]

Aquilino assumed duties as commander, United States Pacific Fleet, on May 17, 2018, the 63rd commander since the fleet's Pearl Harbor headquarters was established in February 1941. [8] He was relieved of the same duties on the morning of April 30, 2021, by Samuel Paparo before relieving Philip S. Davidson as commander of Indo-Pacific Command later that day. [4]

Awards and decorations

Naval Aviator Badge.jpg Naval Aviator insignia
Navy CaS.png Command at Sea insignia
US Indo-Pacific Command Seal.svg United States Indo-Pacific Command Badge
Navy Distinguished Service ribbon.svg 1 golden star.svg 1 golden star.svg Navy Distinguished Service Medal with two gold award stars
US Defense Superior Service Medal ribbon.svg Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit ribbon.svg 1 golden star.svg 1 golden star.svg 1 golden star.svg 1 golden star.svg Legion of Merit with four award stars
1 golden star.svg
Bronze Star Medal ribbon.svg
Bronze Star Medal with award star
Defense Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg Defense Meritorious Service Medal
1 golden star.svg
Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg
Meritorious Service Medal with award star
Air Medal ribbon.svg Award numeral 6.png Air Medal with bronze Strike/Flight numeral "6"
Navy and Marine Corps Commendation ribbon.svg "V" device, gold.svg 1 golden star.svg 1 golden star.svg 1 golden star.svg 1 golden star.svg Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Combat V and four award stars
1 golden star.svg
Navy and Marine Corps Achievement ribbon.svg
Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with award star
Joint Meritorious Unit Award (USMC and USN frame).svg Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Navy Unit Commendation ribbon.svg Navy Unit Commendation
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation ribbon.svg
Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation with one bronze service star
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg
National Defense Service Medal with service star
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal ribbon.svg Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Southwest Asia Service Medal ribbon (1991-2016).svg
Southwest Asia Service Medal with service star
Afghanistan Campaign Medal ribbon.svg Afghanistan Campaign Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal ribbon.svg Iraq Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary ribbon.svg Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service ribbon.svg Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal ribbon.svg Armed Forces Service Medal
Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.svg Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg Silver-service-star-3d.svg Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with one silver and one bronze service stars
Order of Bahrain, 1st class.png The Khalifiyyeh Order of Bahrain, 1st class [9]
AUS Order of Australia (military) BAR.svg Honorary Officer of the Order of Australia, Military Division [10]
NATO Medal Yugoslavia ribbon bar.svg NATO Medal for the former Yugoslavia
United States Navy Rifle Marksmanship Ribbon with expert device.svg Navy Expert Rifleman Medal
United States Navy Pistol Marksmanship Ribbon with expert device.svg Navy Expert Pistol Shot Medal

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References

  1. "US Navy's Aquilino: Partnerships Needed for Gulf Maritime Superiority". U.S. Central Command. 11 Nov 2017. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  2. "PN673 — Navy". U.S. Congress. 25 October 1993. Retrieved 6 March 2018.
  3. Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy on Active Duty. Bureau of Naval Personnel. 1 October 1990. p. 97. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
  4. 1 2 "DVIDS Webcast - U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and U.S. Pacific Fleet combined Change of Command Ceremony". DVIDS. Retrieved 2021-04-25.
  5. U.S. Pacific Fleet conducts change of command Archived 2018-07-27 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 19 May 2018
  6. Naval Reactors [@USNavyNNPP] (January 9, 2024). "Besides being Director, @USNavyNNPP, Adm. Frank Caldwell has also been holding the Old Goat Award – as the longest serving @NavalAcademy graduate on active duty - passed today to Adm. John Aquilino, Commander, @INDOPACOM" (Tweet) via Twitter.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "Vice Admiral John C. Aquilino". US Navy. Retrieved 12 February 2018.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  8. "John C. Aquilino". US Navy. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  9. "U.S. 5th Fleet Holds Change of Command Ceremony". U.S. Central Command. 7 May 2018. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  10. 2020-S1 – Honorary Officer (AO) in the Military Division (27 April 2021)
Military offices
Preceded by Commander of Carrier Strike Group 2
2013–2014
Succeeded by
Preceded by Commander of the United States Naval Forces Central Command
2017–2018
Succeeded by
Commander of the United States Fifth Fleet
2017–2018
Preceded by Commander of the United States Pacific Fleet
2018–2021
Succeeded by
Preceded by Commander of the United States Indo-Pacific Command
2021–2024