Superintendent of the United States Naval Academy


The Superintendent of the United States Naval Academy is its commanding officer. The position is roughly equivalent to the chancellor or president of an American civilian university. The officer appointed is, by tradition, a graduate of the United States Naval Academy. However, this is not an official requirement for the position.
The United States Naval Academy is organized much like a civilian college. The Superintendent's principal deputies include overseeing a civilian Academic Dean, who manages the academic program and faculty, and the Commandant of Midshipmen, who serves as dean of students and supervisor of all military and professional training. The Superintendent, Commandant, Academic Dean, and academic division directors sit on the academic board, which sets the academy's academic standards.

Superintendents

A "—" in the Class year column indicates a Superintendent who is not an alumnus of the Academy.
#ImageStartEndNameClass yearNotabilityReferences
13 September 18458 March 1847 —Commanded the USS Susquehanna during the Perry Expedition. Became the only full admiral in the Confederate Navy during the American Civil War. He also commanded the ironclad CSS Virginia.
2 —15 March 18471 July 1850 —Served in the USS Lexington, on the Brazil station, 1832–1834. He commanded the brig USS Truxtun on her first cruise in the Mediterranean in 1843–844.
31 July 18501 November 1853 —Served during the War of 1812, the Second Barbary War, the Mexican–American War, and the American Civil War.
41 November 185315 September 1857 —Served during the American Civil War, during which he held several sea commands during the Civil War, including that of the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron. He was also noted for contributions to nautical scientific research as the first commander of the Depot of Charts and Instruments.
5 —15 September 18579 September 1865 —Served in the West Indian Station and in the United States Coastal Survey.
69 September 18651 December 1869 —The second U.S. Navy officer to attain the rank of admiral. Served in the Mexican War in the attack on the fort at the City of Vera Cruz. Fought in the Civil War, including at the capture of New Orleans and Second Battle of Fort Fisher, and in the Vicksburg and Red River Campaigns
71 December 186922 September 1874 —Commanded the in the Battle of Hampton Roads. Commanded the European Squadron from 18751877
822 September 18741 July 1878 —Served in the Mexican–American War, the Civil War, as President of the United States Naval Institute, and Commander-in-Chief of the Pacific Squadron.
91 July 18782 August 1879 —Executive officer of the navy yard at Washington, D.C.. During the Civil War, he worked to protect Alexandria, Virginia after the First Battle of Bull Run. Had charge of several gunboats, a battery at Fort Sumter, and later the Potomac Flotilla. A founder of the United States Naval Institute.
102 August 187913 June 1881 —Commanded the during the Civil War, Governor of the Philadelphia Naval Asylum, on the Light House Board, commander of the Pacific Squadron.
1113 June 188114 November 1881 —Served in the Mexican–American War, the Civil War, as President of the United States Naval Institute, and Commander-in-Chief of the Pacific Squadron.
1214 November 18819 September 18861856Chief of the Navy Bureau of Navigation, Fleet Captain, South Atlantic Squadron, commanding officer of,,,, and and at Boston and New York as commandant of the Navy Yards.
139 September 188613 June 18901861Led the Flying Squadron to victory in the Battle of Santiago de Cuba during the Spanish–American War.
14 —13 June 189015 November 18941856First superintendent of the New York Nautical School and later superintendent of the U.S. Naval Observatory.
1515 November 189415 July 18981863Commander-in-Chief of the United States Asiatic Fleet, commander of the
16 —15 July 189815 March 19001857Superintendent of the Naval Observatory , Commander of the Asiatic Station, Served on the Atlantic blockade stations and Mississippi River patrols during the Civil War.
1715 March 19006 November 19021868Fought in Spanish–American War,commanded American forces during the Santo Domingo Affair, commanded the Second Division of the Great White Fleet.
186 November 19021 July 19051865Commanded the during the Spanish–American War,Commander-in-Chief of the United States Asiatic Fleet, Chief of the Bureau of Navigation.
191 July 190515 July 19071863Served as Governor of the Naval Home Squadron, president of the Naval Retirement Board, Commandant of the Philadelphia Navy Yard, commanded the Coast Squadron.
2015 July 190710 June 19091873Commander in Chief, Atlantic Fleet, commanded the USS Kansas, chairman of the General Board during World War I
21 —10 June 190915 May 19111874Commanded the,, and
22 —15 May 19117 February 19141879Instructor at the Naval Academy, aide to the Assistant Secretary of the Navy, commanded the General Alava, Dolphin, Charleston, Louisiana, and Utah
237 February 191420 September 19151877Commanded the and the, awarded the Navy Cross, commanded the Reserve Force, Pacific Fleet, and Patrol Force.
2420 September 191512 February 19191885Third Chief of Naval Operations, commander of the Pacific Fleet, Naval Gun Factory, and
2512 February 19195 July 19211887Served in the Spanish–American War, commanded the,, the Bureau of Equipment,,
26—5 July 192123 February 1925 1881Commanded the USS Pennsylvania, Patrol Forces, Atlantic Fleet, U.S. Naval Forces, France, U.S. Atlantic Fleet and the U.S. Battle Fleet
2723 February 192516 June 1928 1889Commanded landing parties ashore during the United States occupation of Veracruz, the Battle Fleet, and the USS Pennsylvania.
2816 June 19281 May 1931 1888Founded a Naval Preparatory Academy in Pine Beach, New Jersey called Admiral Farragut Academy, commander of the United States Fleet.
291 May 193118 June 1934 1897Commanded USS Chicago, Submarine Division 2, Submarine Division 5, USS Mississippi, Submarine Flotilla 3, Cruiser Division 6, United States Asiatic Fleet and ABDAFLOAT
3018 June 19341 February 1938 1894First person from New Mexico to graduate from the United States Naval Academy. Served in the Spanish–American War. Commanded the, the cruisers and the battleship, and. Earned Navy Cross for service in World War I. Commanded the , the Special Service Squadron during the Nicaraguan Uprising, was Judge Advocate General of the Navy and Commander of the Battleships Battle Force, and the United States Fleet.
311 February 19381 February 1941 1902Vice admiral, served in World War I and World War II, commanded USS Parker, USS California, Groton Sub Base and Task Force 11. Naval aide to four presidents.
321 February 194131 January 1942 1906Vice admiral, commanded Battleship Division 1. Inventor of the Navy Cipher Box. deputy commander in chief of the United States Fleet.
3331 January 194216 August 19451908Rear admiral, naval aide to Franklin D. Roosevelt. Commanded the USS Vincennes.
3416 August 194515 January 1947 1906Admiral, commanded USS Terry, USS Yankton, USS Luce, USS Mahan, USS Arctic, USS Wright, USS Langley, NAS Hampton Roads, USS Lexington, NAS PensacolaPatrol Wing 2, Carrier Division 1, Aircraft, South Pacific Force.
3515 January 194728 April 1950 1919Admiral, Chief of Naval Personnel 1953–1957; commander in chief of all United States naval forces in the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean from 1957–1959, commanded the 1958 American intervention in Lebanon. Key figure in establishment of the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps.
3628 April 19504 August 1952 1916Admiral, commander of USS Dewey, Wichita,Battleship Division Four, and the Fifth Amphibious Force.
374 August 195212 August 1954 1921Vice admiral, commanded the USS Litchfield, USS Louisville, a Naval Proving Ground and Naval Forces, Far East during the Korean War.
3812 August 195416 March 19561921Admiral, fought in World War II, commanded USS Yorktown, U.S. Naval Forces, Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean and U.S. Military Representative, NATO Military Committee.
39—16 March 195627 June 19581926Vice admiral; commanded the USS Lansdowne, USS Hudson, USS Iowa, U.S. Second Fleet, the NATO Strike Fleet and chief of the Bureau of Naval Personnel
4027 June 195822 June 19601927Vice admiral; served in World War II, the Korean War, and the Cold War, commanded the United States First Fleet, United States Taiwan Defense Command and President of the Naval War College.
41—22 June 196018 August 19621929Commanded the submarines Mackerel and Blackfish during World War II. Later led the USS Albany, the Joint U.S. Military Mission for Aid to Turkey and the Pacific Fleet Training Command.
4218 August 196211 January 19641931Rear admiral, commanded the submarine USS Triton during World War II and served as chief information officer of the Navy.
4311 January 196412 June 19651937Vice admiral; commanded the USS Albermarle; USS Intrepid, Fleet Air Wing, Pacific; Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, and deputy chairman, NATO Military Committee.
4412 June 196522 June 19681933Rear admiral, organized the first Navy Demolition Teams, commanded U.S. Naval Forces in the Philippines and the 9th Naval District
45—22 June 196820 July 19681943Rear admiral, executive officer of Fighter Squadron 61, finalist in selection of the Mercury Seven.
4620 July 196816 June 19721943Vice admiral, commanded the USS Trigger, USS Skate, Cruiser Destroyer Flotilla Eight, and the First Fleet.
47—16 June 19721 August 19751937Vice admiral, commanded the Seventh Fleet, author.
481 August 197528 August 19781951Admiral, led the Navy's Nuclear Power Program, commanded Submarine Group 8 during the Yom Kippur War.
4928 August 197822 August 19811951Vice admiral, commanded U.S. Third Fleet and Fighter Squadron 143. Was Chief of Naval Personnel.
5022 August 198131 August 19831949Vice admiral
5131 August 198319 August 19861958Admiral, led the United States Pacific Command. Served as the 51 and 55th superintendents.
5219 August 198618 August 19881957President and CEO of the George C. Marshall Foundation, president and CEO of the Naval Academy Alumni Association, and President of the Naval War College.
5318 August 198815 June 19911961Rear admiral, president of Valley Forge Military Academy and College, led a $23 million fundraising push at the USNA.
5415 June 19911 August 19941964Rear admiral, Director of the Navy Staff at the Pentagon, reassigned after cheating scandal.
551 August 19944 June 19981958Admiral, led the United States Pacific Command. Served as the 51 and 55th superintendents.
564 June 19987 June 20021967Vice admiral, commanded Patrol Wing 10, Patrol Squadron 31, and Patrol Squadron 11. Chancellor of the State University of New York.
577 June 20025 June 20031968Served in Gulf War, commanded Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center, NAS Fallon and Carrier Group FOUR/Carrier Striking Force.
—5 June 20031 August 20031968Vice admiral; commander of U.S. Naval Forces, Central Command, the Fifth Fleet in Bahrain, and Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, Fleet Readiness and Logistics..
581 August 20038 June 20071966Vice admiral; commander of USS Antelope, USS Callaghan, and USS Bunker Hill. President of the Naval War College.
598 June 20073 August 20101978Commanded Charlotte, Submarine Squadron Three, Navy Recruiting Command, Submarine Group 8; and Task Forces 164/69.
603 August 201023 July 20141974Commander USS John F. Kennedy, USS Coronado, Carrier Strike Group Seven/Ronald Reagan Strike Group; directed White House Military Office.
6123 July 201426 July 20191981Vice admiral, 54th President of the U.S. Naval War College, commanded Carrier Strike Group Twelve and Joint Enabling Capabilities Command, USJFCOM.
6226 July 2019Sean Buck1983Vice admiral, chief of staff to the Director for Strategy, Plans, and Policy of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and led the U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet.