Harry Binkley Harris, Jr., was born in Yokosuka, Japan in 1956. His father was a U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer and his mother a Japanese citizen. After his family's return to the United States, Harris grew up in Tennessee and Florida, where he attended local public schools.

Naval Career

Following graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1978, and receiving his commission as an Ensign, Harris completed flight training and was designated a Naval Flight Officer. His first assignment was to Patrol Squadron Forty Four (VP-44), home-ported at Naval Air Station Brunswick, ME, where he flew the P-3C Orion, deploying throughout the Atlantic and Mediterranean. His subsequent operational tours include assignment as a Tactical Action Officer aboard USS Saratoga (CV-60), which included participation in the Achille Lauro incident and strikes against Libya (Operation Attain Document III); Operations Officer in Patrol Squadron 4 (VP-4) at Naval Air Station Barbers Point, HI, with deployment to Southwest Asia during Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm; and three tours with Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 1/TF 57/TF 72, the latter tour as the Wing's Commodore, home-ported in Kami Seya, Japan and forward deployed to Manama, Bahrain for Operation Enduring Freedom.

In 2002, he reported to Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/U.S. Fifth Fleet in Manama, Bahrain, serving as Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations, Plans, and Pol-Mil Affairs (N3/N5). He was responsible for the planning and execution of the Naval component’s portion of Operation Iraqi Freedom, which began 19 March 2003.

Harris' aviation command assignments include Patrol Squadron 46 (VP-46) at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, WA, and Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 1/CTF57/CTF 72 at Kami Seya, Japan. Task Force 57 was heavily involved in Operation Enduring Freedom as squadrons and aircrews under his command flew nearly 1,000 P-3 and EP-3 surveillance and reconnaissance sorties over Afghanistan. Additional Flag Officer command assignments included Joint Task Force Guantanamo, U.S. Sixth Fleet, and Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO. While commanding Sixth Fleet, he was designated as the Joint Force Maritime Component Commander for Operation Odyssey Dawn, the US-led coalition operation against Libya.

Harris’ shore assignments include Aide and Flag Lieutenant to the Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Japan in Yokosuka, Japan; three tours on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations to include two flag officer tours and a tour as a Strategist in the Strategy and Concepts Branch; and Special Assistant/Chief Speechwriter to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

In November 2009, Harris assumed command of the U.S. 6th Fleet and Striking and Support Forces NATO. He concurrently served as the Joint Force Maritime Component commander, Naples; Deputy Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe; and Deputy Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Africa. In 2011, he was designated as the Joint Force Maritime Component Commander for Operation Odyssey Dawn, the US-led coalition operation against Libya.

VADM Harris assumed the position of Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in October 2011. In this capacity, he served as the Chairman's direct representative to the Secretary of State. He was also the designated U.S. roadmap Monitor for the Middle East Peace Process.

On 16 October 2013, Harris was promoted to the four-star rank of Admiral and assumed his current assignment as Commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet.

Admiral Harris is the U.S. Navy's highest-ranking Japanese American.

Education

In addition to his Bachelor's degree from the U.S. Naval Academy, Harris also received the following education during his Naval career:

The Navy’s Harvard/Tufts Program, where he graduated with a Master's of Public Administration from Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government in 1992.

As an Arthur S. Moreau Scholar, he studied International Relations and Ethics of War at Oxford and Georgetown University, earning a Master of Arts in National Security Studies from the latter in 1994. While at Georgetown, he was a Fellow in the School of Foreign Service.

He was an MIT Seminar 21 fellow.

Flight Information

Admiral Harris has logged 4,400 flight hours, including over 400 combat hours, in U.S. and foreign maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft.

Medals, Awards & Badges

Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Navy Distinguished Service Medal (2 Awards)
Defense Superior Service Medal (3 Awards)
Legion of Merit (3 Awards)
Bronze Star Medal (2 Awards)
Meritorious Service Medal (4 Awards)
Air Medal (1 Strike/Flight)
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Navy & Marine Corps Commendation Medal (4 Awards)
Navy & Marine Corps Achievement Medal
Navy Unit Commendation Medal (5 Awards)
Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation (2 Awards)
Navy 'E' Medal
Navy Expeditionary Medal (2 Awards)
National Defense Service Medal (3 Awards)
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Southwest Asia Service Award (4 Awards)
Afghanistan Campaign Medal (2 Awards)
Iraq Campaign Medal (2 Awards)
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal
Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (5 Awards)
Navy & Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon (13 Awards)
Philippine Presidential Unit Citation
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)
Navy Expert Rifleman Medal
Navy Expert Pistol Shot Medal
Naval Flight Officer Badge
Command-at-Sea Badge
Joint Chief of Staff Identification Badge

Honors

● Department of State Distinguished Honor Award
● Recipient of the Navy League’s Stephen Decatur Award for Operational Competence
● ADM Harris is the Navy’s current “Gray Owl” – the NFO who has held this designation for the longest period
● ADM Harris is also the current “Old Goat” – the longest-serving Naval Academy graduate still on active duty