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First Name: Harold

Last Name: Gehman

Birthplace: Norfolk, VA, USA

Gender: Male

Branch: Navy (present)

Rating:

Middle Name: W.



Date of Birth: 15 October 1942



Rank or Rate: Admiral

Years Served: 1965-2000
Harold W. Gehman, Jr.

   
Engagements:
•  Vietnam War (1960 - 1973)

Biography:

Harold W. Gehman, Jr.

Admiral, U.S. Navy

Harold W. Gehman, Jr. was born in Norfolk, VA, on 15 October 1942.

He graduated from Pennsylvania State University in 1965 with a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering and a commission in the Navy from the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps. A Surface Warfare Officer, he served at all levels of leadership and command in guided missile destroyers and cruisers.

During the course of his career, Gehman had five sea commands in ranks from Lieutenant to Rear Admiral. Gehman served in Vietnam as Officer in Charge of a Swift patrol boat and later in Chu Lai as Officer in Charge of a detachment of six swift boats.

His staff assignments were both afloat on a Carrier Battle Group staff and ashore on a Fleet Commander's staff, a Unified Commander's staff and in Washington, DC, on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations (four tours).

Promoted to the four-star rank of Admiral on 1 October 1996, he became the 29th Vice Chief of Naval Operations in September 1996. As Vice Chief of Naval Operations, he was a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, formulated the Navy's $70 billion budget and developed and implemented policies governing the 375,000 people in the Navy.

Assigned in September 1997, as Supreme Allied Commander, Atlantic and Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Atlantic Command (later changed to Joint Forces Command), he became one of NATO's two military commanders and assumed command of all forces of all four services in the continental U.S. and became responsible for the provision of ready forces to the other Unified Commanders in Chief and for the development of new joint doctrine, training and requirements.

Admiral Gehman retired from the Navy in October 2000.

Medals and Awards

Legion of Merit

Bronze Star Medal

Badges

Surface Warfare Officer Insignia

In Retirement

Gehman has served as chairman of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board, co-chair, with retired General William W. Crouch, of the Department of Defense's USS Cole Commission, on the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) committee, and is a Senior Fellow of the National Defense University's Capstone Program.

Personal

Gehman is married to Janet F. Johnson Gehman and they have two adult children, Katherine and Christopher.



Honoree ID: 522   Created by: MHOH

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