Gary Roughead

Gary Roughead (born July 15, 1951 pronounced RUFF-hedd) is a former United States Navy officer who served as the 29th Chief of Naval Operations from September 29, 2007 to September 22, 2011. He previously served as Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, from May 17, 2007, to September 29, 2007. Prior to that, Roughead served as the 31st Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, from July 8, 2005, to May 8, 2007. He retired from the U.S. Navy after 38 years of service.

Roughead graduated from high school at Valley Forge Military Academy in Wayne, Pennsylvania, in 1969. He is a 1973 graduate of the United States Naval Academy and a Surface Warfare Officer. His initial assignment was in the Weapons Department aboard USS Josephus Daniels (CG-27). This was followed by duty as Executive Officer on the patrol gunboats USS Douglas (PGM-100) and USS Tacoma (PGM-92), the former home-ported in Naples, Italy. He was the commissioning Chief Engineer aboard USS O'Bannon (DD-987) and Executive Officer on board USS Spruance (DD-963).

Roughead during his confirmation hearing for appointment to Chief of Naval Operations in September 2007.

Roughead orating in October 2007.

Roughead and Joe Campa visiting Afghanistan in August 2008.

United States Navy

Roughead's tours ashore include assignments as Flag Lieutenant to Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet; the Surface Warfare Analyst at the Navy's Office of Program Appraisal; Administrative Aide to the Secretary of the Navy; Executive Assistant to the Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Pacific Command; Commandant, United States Naval Academy; the Department of the Navy's Chief of Legislative Affairs; and most recently, Deputy Commander, U.S. Pacific Command.

Roughead was the commissioning Commanding Officer of the Aegis destroyer USS Barry (DDG-52), and, upon assuming command of the cruiser USS Port Royal (CG-73), he became the first naval officer to command both classes of Aegis ships. While he was in command, Port Royal was awarded a Meritorious Unit Commendation and received the Golden Anchor Award for excellence in retention and crew support programs. He was Commander, Cruiser Destroyer Group Two and the USS George Washington (CVN-73) Carrier Battle Group, deploying to the Persian Gulf and Mediterranean Sea. His latest assignment afloat was as Commander, U.S. Second Fleet and Commander, NATO Striking Fleet Atlantic and Commander, Naval Forces North Fleet East in Norfolk, Virginia; he was nominated to head the Fleet Forces Command on March 19, 2007.

On September 2, 2005, Roughead was a keynote speaker at the End of WWII Commemoration aboard the battleship USS Missouri (BB-63) Memorial on Ford Island in Hawaii.

Chief of Naval Operations

On September 29, 2007, Roughead became the Chief of Naval Operations.

In January 2009, Roughead was present with U.S. President Barack Obama as they watched the inaugural parade in Washington, D.C.

In 2011, Roughead retired from the U.S. Navy after 38 years of service and was succeeded in his post as the Chief of Naval Operations by Admiral Jonathan W. Greenert.

Since retirement he has become a board member of Theranos, a Silicon Valley biotech company.

	Defense Distinguished Service Medal
	Navy Distinguished Service Medal with one golden Award star
	Army Distinguished Service Medal
	Defense Superior Service Medal
	Legion of Merit with three award stars
	Meritorious Service Medal with 1 award star
	Navy Commendation Medal
	Navy Achievement Medal with award star
	Joint Meritorious Unit Award
	Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation with 3 bronze service stars
	Navy "E" Ribbon w/ 2 Battle E devices
	National Defense Service Medal with 2 bronze service stars
	Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with bronze service star
	Vietnam Service Medal with 1 bronze service star
	Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with silver service star
	Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun (Japan) 2009
	Order of National Security Merit, Tong-il Medal (Republic of Korea)
	Commander of the Order of Naval Merit (Brazil)
	Grand Cross of the Order of Naval Merit Admiral Padilla (Colombia)
	Meritorious Service Medal (Military) (Singapore)

Roughead is also a distinguished recipient of the "Bob Hope Five Star Award for Distinguished Service to America."

The Asian-American Government Executives Network (AAGEN) recognized Roughead with the AAGEN Excellence in Public Service Award June 10, 2010.