John C. Aquilino

John C. Aquilino
Birth name	John Christopher Aquilino
Nickname(s)	Lung [1]
Born	1961 (age 63–64) Huntington, New York, U.S.
Allegiance	United States
Service / branch	United States Navy
Years of service	1984–2024
Rank	Admiral
Commands	United States Indo-Pacific Command United States Pacific Fleet United States Naval Forces Central Command Combined Maritime Forces United States Fifth Fleet Carrier Strike Group 2 Carrier Air Wing 2 VF-11
Battles / wars	Operation Deny Flight Operation Deliberate Force Operation Southern Watch Operation Noble Eagle War in Afghanistan Iraq War
Awards	Navy Distinguished Service Medal (3) Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit (5) Bronze Star (2)
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.

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]

Naval career

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.

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 insignia
	Command at Sea insignia
	United States Indo-Pacific Command Badge

	Navy Distinguished Service Medal with two gold award stars
	Defense Superior Service Medal
	Legion of Merit with four award stars
	Bronze Star Medal with award star
	Defense Meritorious Service Medal
	Meritorious Service Medal with award star
	Air Medal with bronze Strike/Flight numeral "6"
	Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Combat V and four award stars
	Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with award star
	Joint Meritorious Unit Award
	Navy Unit Commendation
	Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation with one bronze service star
	National Defense Service Medal with service star
	Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
	Southwest Asia Service Medal with service star
	Afghanistan Campaign Medal
	Iraq Campaign Medal
	Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
	Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
	Armed Forces Service Medal
	Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with one silver and one bronze service stars
	The Khalifiyyeh Order of Bahrain, 1st class [9]
	Honorary Officer of the Order of Australia, Military Division [10]
	NATO Medal for the former Yugoslavia
	Navy Expert Rifleman Medal
	Navy Expert Pistol Shot Medal

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. "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. "Vice Admiral John C. Aquilino". US Navy. Archived from the original on 6 August 2018. Retrieved 12 February 2018. 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)

External links

• US Navy Biography: John C. Aquilino

Military offices
Preceded by Gregory Nosal	Commander of Carrier Strike Group 2 2013–2014	Succeeded by DeWolfe Miller III
Preceded by Kevin M. Donegan	Commander of the United States Naval Forces Central Command 2017–2018	Succeeded by Scott Stearney
	Commander of the United States Fifth Fleet 2017–2018
Preceded by Scott H. Swift	Commander of the United States Pacific Fleet 2018–2021	Succeeded by Samuel Paparo
Preceded by Philip S. Davidson	Commander of the United States Indo-Pacific Command 2021–2024