Career
The son of a navy master chief and quartermaster, Crowder received a congressional appointment to the United States Naval Academy, where he graduated in June 1974.
At sea, Crowder has served in numerous ships in both Pacific and Atlantic Fleets including: as CIC officer in USS Ramsey (FFG-2), aft propulsion group officer in USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63), combat systems officer in USS Stump (DD-978), and executive officer in USS Yorktown (CG-48).
He commanded USS Kidd (DDG-993) from 1992–1994, operating in both the Pacific and Atlantic, winning the Battle Efficiency "E" Award. In 1998-1999 he commanded Destroyer Squadron 24, deploying to the Mediterranean as part of the USS John F. Kennedy Battle Group. He also served as the aide and flag lieutenant to Commander, Naval Surface Forces Atlantic.
Ashore, Crowder has served a number of tours in the Pentagon including: as action officer on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations, Strategy and Plans Division (OP-60); Surface Warfare Analyst in the Office of Program Appraisal (Office of Secretary of the Navy); Deputy Executive Assistant to the Vice Chief of Naval Operations; Chief of the Planning and Integration Branch, Joint Staff (J-8); Senior Staff of the National Defense Panel; and as Executive Assistant to the Vice Chief of Naval Operations. He also served as Executive Assistant and Senior Naval Aide to the Commander-in-Chief U.S. Pacific Fleet.
Crowder commanded the U.S. 7th Fleet from September 2006 to July 2008. Prior to assuming that command, he was ADCNO for Information, Plans, and Strategy (OPNAV N3/N5B) in August 2005. His previous Flag assignments were as director of Deep Blue, the Navy Operations Group, from August 2002 to May 2004, director of Operations, Plans and Political Military Affairs Division (N31/N52) from September 2001-October 2002 — both on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations. Additionally he served as commander of Carrier Strike Group Nine/Abraham Lincoln Strike Group from July 2004 to August 2005 deploying to the western Pacific and serving as commander of Combined Support Group Indonesia, as part of Operation Unified Assistance (Tsunami Relief effort).
Gary Roughead is a former United States Navy officer who served as the 29th Chief of Naval Operations from 2007 to 2011. He previously served as Commander, United States Fleet Forces Command from May 17 to September 29, 2007. Prior to that, Roughead served as the 31st Commander, United States Pacific Fleet from 2005 to 2007. In 2011, he retired from the U.S. Navy after 38 years of service.
Rear Admiral William VanMeter Alford Jr. was the chief of staff for the United States Pacific Command between August 2004 and September 2007.
Admiral James Oren Ellis Jr. is a retired 4-star admiral and former Commander, United States Strategic Command, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. He was President and Chief Executive Officer, Institute of Nuclear Power Operations until May 2012 and serves on the board of directors of Lockheed Martin.
Kurt Walter Tidd is a retired United States Navy admiral. He last served as the Commander, United States Southern Command. Prior to that assignment, Tidd served as Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He also served as the Director for Operations, Joint Staff (J-3) from 2012 to 2013, and as Commander, United States Naval Forces Southern Command and United States Fourth Fleet from August 5, 2011, to June 22, 2012. Confirmed by the Senate on December 16, 2015, Tidd received his fourth star and succeeded John F. Kelly as commander of United States Southern Command on January 14, 2016. Tidd held the title of "Old salt", which means he received his qualification for Surface Warfare before any other active-duty navy officer. He passed said title to Admiral Philip S. Davidson upon his retirement. Upon the May 30, 2018, retirement of his United States Naval Academy classmate, Admiral Harry B. Harris Jr., Tidd also gained the honorific of "Old Goat" – the longest-serving Naval Academy graduate on active duty. Harris presented Tidd with the Old Goat decanter in a ceremony on April 11, 2018.
Harry Wilbur Hill was an admiral in the United States Navy during World War II.
Vice Admiral Scott Ray Van Buskirk, is a retired United States Navy officer who was the 56th Chief of Naval Personnel. He served as the CNP from October 2011 to August 2013. He was succeeded by Vice Admiral William F. Moran and retired after 34 years of service. He is one of only two submarine officers to have commanded a carrier strike group.
John W. "Fozzie" Miller is a retired United States Navy Vice Admiral who last served as Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/Commander, U.S. Fifth Fleet, based in Manama, Bahrain. Prior to assuming the duties of NAVCENT/C5F, Miller was special assistant to the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Operations, Plans, and Strategy (N3/N5) in Washington, D.C. He has also served as NAVCENT deputy commander.
Peter Hasten Daly is a retired United States Navy vice admiral who served as Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff, U.S. Fleet Forces Command. He is currently the CEO of the United States Naval Institute.
Vice Admiral John Jay Donnelly is a retired American submarine officer. A graduate from the U.S. Naval Academy class of 1975, he retired in 2010 after 35 years of service.
Robert Peter Burke is a retired United States Navy admiral who last served as the commander of United States Naval Forces Europe-Africa and Allied Joint Force Command Naples from 17 July 2020 to 27 June 2022. He served as Vice Chief of Naval Operations from 10 June 2019 until 29 May 2020, having previously served as the 58th Chief of Naval Personnel from 27 May 2016 to 23 May 2019.
James Gordon Foggo III is a retired United States Navy admiral who last served as commander of United States Naval Forces Europe-Africa and commander of Allied Joint Force Command Naples. He previously served as the director of Navy Staff. Prior to that, he served as the commander of United States Sixth Fleet. He assumed his last assignment on October 20, 2017. On July 17, 2020, he relinquished command of United States Naval Forces Europe-Africa and Allied Joint Forces Command Naples to Admiral Robert P. Burke.
John Christopher Aquilino is an admiral in the United States Navy, serving as the commander of the United States Indo-Pacific Command since April 30, 2021. He previously served as the commander of the United States Pacific Fleet and before that, commander of the United States Fifth Fleet and Combined Maritime Forces.
Christopher Watson Grady is a United States Navy admiral who is currently serving as the 12th vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff since December 20, 2021.
Lisa Marie Franchetti is a United States Navy admiral who has served as the 33rd chief of naval operations since November 2, 2023. She most recently served as the 42nd vice chief of naval operations from September 2022 to November 2023 and as acting chief of naval operations (CNO) from August to November 2023.
Andrew Lloyd Lewis is a retired admiral in the United States Navy who last served as the commander of the United States Second Fleet and NATO Joint Force Command for the Atlantic. Lewis previously served as the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Operations, Plans and Strategy. He took command of the United States Second Fleet upon its reestablishment on August 24, 2018.
Phillip Grayson Sawyer is a retired vice admiral in the United States Navy, who served as the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Operations, Plans and Strategy from October 10, 2019, to August 6, 2021. He previously served as commander for naval mine and anti-submarine warfare, and commander of United States Seventh Fleet, stationed at Japan.
Wallace Morris Beakley was an American naval aviator, diplomat, commander of the United States Seventh Fleet, deputy chief of naval operations, and vice admiral in the United States Navy. He served as vice chief of naval operations for Atlantic Fleet and commander in chief for Western Atlantic until he retired from the U.S. uniformed services in 1964.
John Vincent Fuller is a United States Navy vice admiral who serves as the 42nd Naval Inspector General since June 11, 2021. Prior to that, Fuller served as deputy director for force protection of the Joint Staff and before that as the director of strategy, plans, and policy of the United States Northern Command.
John Blackwelder Nowell Jr. is a retired vice admiral in the United States Navy. Nowell assumed duties as the navy's 59th Chief of Naval Personnel on May 24, 2019. Nowell is a distinguished graduate of the United States Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science in Ocean Engineering and holds a Master of Science in Weapons Systems Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School.
Daryl Lane Caudle is a United States Navy admiral who is the 35th commander of United States Fleet Forces Command since December 7, 2021. He most recently served as commander of Naval Submarine Forces (COMSUBFOR), Commander, Submarine Force Atlantic (COMSUBLANT) and Commander, Allied Submarine Command (ASC). As COMSUBFOR, he was the undersea domain lead, and is responsible for the submarine force's strategic vision. As COMSUBLANT, he commanded all Atlantic-based U.S. submarines, their crews and supporting shore activities. These responsibilities also include duties as commander, Task Force (CTF) 114, CTF 88, and CTF 46. As commander, Allied Submarine Command, he was the principal undersea warfare advisor to all North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) strategic commanders.
