Christopher W. Grady

Christopher Watson Grady is a four-star admiral in the United States Navy, who currently serves as the commander of United States Fleet Forces Command (USFFC). He also concurrently serves as the commander of United States Naval Forces Northern Command, the commander of United States Naval Forces Strategic Command and Joint Force Maritime Component Commander. He previously served as the commander of Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO, deputy commander of United States Naval Forces Europe - Naval Forces Africa, commander of United States Sixth Fleet and Joint Force Maritime Component Commander Europe. He assumed these duties October 28, 2016. On October 31, 2017, the United States Senate confirmed Grady's reappointment to the rank of vice admiral and assignment as the assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.[1][2] On February 28, 2018, Grady was nominated by President Donald Trump for appointment to the rank of admiral and assignment as commander of United States Fleet Forces Command,[3] and confirmed by the senate on March 22, 2018.[4] He assumed command of USFFC and Naval Forces Northern Command on May 4, 2018[5] and of commander, Naval Forces Strategic Command (NAVSTRAT) and United States Strategic Command Joint Force Maritime Component Command (JFMCC) on February 1, 2019.[6][7]

Christopher W. Grady
Admiral Christopher W. Grady in 2018
Born	(1961-12-20) December 20, 1961 Newport, Rhode Island, United States
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Navy
Years of service	1984–present
Rank	Admiral
Commands held	United States Fleet Forces Command United States Naval Forces Northern Command Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO Joint Force Maritime Component Commander United States Sixth Fleet Carrier Strike Group 1 USS Cole (DDG 67) USS Ardent (MCM 12) Destroyer Squadron 22
Battles/wars	Gulf War War in Afghanistan Iraq War
Awards	Navy Distinguished Service Medal Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit (5)

Naval career

Christopher Grady is a native of Newport, Rhode Island. He is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame,[8] and was commissioned an ensign in the United States Navy through the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps program in 1984.[9] Grady is a distinguished graduate of Georgetown University, where he earned a Master of Arts in National Security Studies while concurrently participating as a fellow in Foreign Service at the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service. He is also a distinguished graduate of the National War College earning a Master of Science in National Security Affairs.[10]

Grady's initial sea tour was aboard USS Moosbrugger (DD 980), where he served as combat information center officer and anti-submarine warfare officer. As a department head, he served as weapons control officer and combat systems officer in USS Princeton (CG 59). He was commanding officer of Mine Counter Measure Rotational Crew Echo in USS Chief (MCM 14), and deployed to the Persian Gulf in command of USS Ardent (MCM 12). Grady then commanded USS Cole (DDG 67) deploying as part of NATO's Standing Naval Forces Mediterranean. He then commanded Destroyer Squadron 22, deploying to the Persian Gulf as sea combat commander for the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group (TRCSG) in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

Ashore, Grady first served on the staff of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and then as naval aide to the chief of naval operations. He also served on the staff of the chief of naval operations as assistant branch head, Europe and Eurasia Politico-Military Affairs Branch (OPNAV N524). He then served as executive assistant to the navy's Chief of Legislative Affairs. Next, he served as the deputy executive secretary of the National Security Council in the White House. He then went on to serve as the executive assistant to the chief of naval operations.

Grady's flag assignments include the Director of the Maritime Operations Center (N2/3/5/7), commander, United States Pacific Fleet; Commander, Carrier Strike Group 1 and the Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group where he deployed for nearly 10 months to the Western Pacific and the Persian Gulf conducting combat operations in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. He was then commander, Naval Surface Force Atlantic.

Awards and decorations

	Surface Warfare Officer Insignia
	Command at Sea insignia
	Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge
	Presidential Service Badge

	Navy Distinguished Service Medal
	Defense Superior Service Medal
	Legion of Merit with four gold award stars
	Meritorious Service Medal with four award stars
	Joint Service Commendation Medal
	Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Combat V and three award stars
	Joint Service Achievement Medal
	Joint Meritorious Unit Award
	Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation with one bronze service star
	Navy "E" Ribbon with three Battle "E" devices
	Navy Expeditionary Medal
	National Defense Service Medal with service star
	Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
	Southwest Asia Service Medal with service star
	Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
	Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
	Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with silver service star
	Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)
	Navy Expert Rifleman Medal
	Navy Expert Pistol Shot Medal

References

1. Flag Officer Announcement – October 17, 2017
2. PN1122 — Vice Adm. Christopher W. Grady — Navy
3. Flag Officer Announcement – February 28, 2018
4. PN1667 — Vice Adm. Christopher W. Grady — Navy
5. US Navy Biography – Admiral Christopher W. Grady
6. Navy.mil – Grady's Bio
7. US Fleet Forces Commander Designated as NAVSTRAT, JFMCC STRAT
8. "University of Notre Dame du Lac 1984 Commencement | May 18–20" (PDF). p. 31. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
9. Admiral Christopher Grady ‘84 – Notre Dame Day 2018
10. "Admiral Christopher W. Grady". US Navy. Retrieved 28 February 2018.