Michael M. Gilday

Michael Martin Gilday (born October 10, 1962) is a United States Navy officer who has served as the 32nd chief of naval operations since August 22, 2019. Gilday has commanded two destroyers, served as Director of the Joint Staff, commanded the Tenth Fleet/Fleet Cyber Command, and led Carrier Strike Group 8.[1]

Michael Gilday
Gilday in 2019
Birth name	Michael Martin Gilday
Born	October 10, 1962 Lowell, Massachusetts, U.S.
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Navy
Years of service	1985–present
Rank	Admiral
Commands held	Chief of Naval Operations United States Tenth Fleet Fleet Cyber Command Carrier Strike Group 8 Destroyer Squadron 7 USS Benfold USS Higgins
Battles/wars	Gulf War
Awards	Defense Distinguished Service Medal Navy Distinguished Service Medal Defense Superior Service Medal (4) Legion of Merit (3) Bronze Star Medal

Early life and education

Gilday was born in Lowell, Massachusetts, and is a 1985 graduate of the United States Naval Academy as a Surface Warfare Officer. He has also graduated from the Harvard Kennedy School and the National War College.[1][2]

Career

Gilday's previous tours include duty with USS Chandler, USS Princeton, as well as commanding the USS Higgins and USS Benfold and Destroyer Squadron 7. He also had staff assignments on the Bureau of Naval Personnel, Chief of Naval Operation (Strategic Plans and Policy Directorate) and staff to the vice chief of naval operations. His joint assignments include Naval Aide to the President and executive assistant to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.[1][3]

As a flag officer, Gilday served as Director of Operations for NATO's Joint Force Command in Lisbon and Director of Operations for United States Cyber Command.[1] He assumed the duties of Commander, Fleet Cyber Command and United States Tenth Fleet on July 14, 2016,[4] was appointed Director of Operations for the Joint Chiefs of Staff in May 2018, and became Director of the Joint Staff from March 1, 2019.[5]

On July 11, 2019, Gilday was nominated for appointment as the next chief of naval operations (CNO).[6] On August 1, the United States Senate voted unanimously to award Gilday a fourth star following the Senate Armed Services Committee's recommendation that he succeed Admiral John M. Richardson as CNO in September 2019.[7]

On April 15, 2020 Gilday announced the Navy was considering reinstating Brett Crozier, earlier fired in relation to Crozier's controversial response to coronavirus disease on the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt.[8] Gilday, and the acting United States secretary of the Navy, James E. McPherson recommended that Crozier be reinstated as Captain of the Roosevelt on April 25, 2020.[9]

On 10 August 2020, Gilday was running on the Washington Navy Yard base, where he lives, when he “fell ill”. Gilday was assisted by a passing Marine, and was taken to his physician. He underwent heart surgery for a pre-existing condition about two weeks later. He returned to work full-time on 28 September 2020.[10][11]

Awards and decorations

Surface Warfare Officer Pin[1][12]
Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Navy Distinguished Service Medal		Defense Superior Service Medal w/ 3 bronze oak leaf clusters		Legion of Merit w/ 2 gold award stars
Bronze Star Medal		Defense Meritorious Service Medal		Meritorious Service Medal w/ 2 award stars
Joint Service Commendation Medal		Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal w/ "V" device and 2 award stars		Joint Service Achievement Medal
Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal w/ 1 award star		Combat Action Ribbon		Joint Meritorious Unit Award w/ 4 oak leaf clusters
Navy Unit Commendation w/ 1 bronze service star		Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation w/ 1 silver service star		Navy "E" Ribbon with wreathed Battle E device
National Defense Service Medal with service star		Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with 4 service stars		Southwest Asia Service Medal with 2 service stars
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal		Global War on Terrorism Service Medal		Humanitarian Service Medal
Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon w/ 3 service stars		Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon		Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)		Navy Rifle Marksmanship Ribbon with Sharpshooter Device		Navy Expert Pistol Shot Medal
Command at Sea insignia
Joint Chiefs of Staff Badge
Presidential Service Badge

References

1. "U.S. Navy bio". Department of the Navy. July 14, 2016. Retrieved June 4, 2017.
2. "Navy.mil - Chief of Naval Operations Bio". navy.mil. Retrieved August 22, 2019.
3. "The Valley Dispatch: Lowell native leads Navy's Fleet Cyber Command". The Valley Dispatch. September 6, 2016. Retrieved June 6, 2017.
4. "ExecutiveGov: Michael Gilday Succeeds Jan Tighe as US Fleet Cyber Command Chief". July 19, 2016. Retrieved June 6, 2017.
5. "Vice Adm. Michael Gilday". March 4, 2019. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
6. "Navy to nominate three-star for CNO". July 11, 2019. Retrieved July 11, 2019.
7. "Inside the historic decision to deep-select the Navy's top officer". August 6, 2019. Retrieved August 11, 2019.
8. "Navy may reinstate fired captain to command of USS Roosevelt". NYT. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
9. Cooper, Helene; Eric Schmitt and Thomas Gibbons-Neff (April 24, 2020). "Navy Leaders Recommend Reinstating Roosevelt Captain Fired Over Virus Warning". SF Gate.
10. Navy Chief Fell Ill, Underwent Heart Surgery, Officials Say - Adm. Gilday was stricken in August while running, Gordon Lubold and Nancy A. Youssef, Wall Street Journal, 2020-09-29
11. Report: CNO ‘fell ill,’ had heart surgery last month, Navy Times, 2020-09-30
12. "Military Times, Hall of Valor: Michael Martin Gilday". Retrieved June 6, 2017.

External links

• Appearances on C-SPAN
• Response to the fire aboard the Bonhomme Richard