Richard Chester Macke

Admiral, U.S. Navy

Richard Chester Macke was born on 4 January 1938. He is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy in the Class of 1960. He is also a Naval Aviator.

Macke commanded the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower from 6 July 1984 through 18 October 1986.

As an Admiral, he was Commander of U.S. Pacific Command (USPACOM) from 19 July 1994 until 31 January 1996. He was fired from that command in November 1995, hours after making comments considered insensitive to reporters about the case of U.S. sailors and a Marine accused of kidnapping, beating and raping a 12-year-old Japanese girl. He said "I think it was absolutely stupid. I have said several times: for the price they paid to rent the car [used in the crime], they could have had a girl [prostitute]."

Macke retired from the Navy on 1 April 1996 as a two-star Rear Admiral; two stars lower than the rank he previously held. Later that year, he was censured by the Navy for matters related to an affair he had before his retirement with an unidentified female Marine Corps lieutenant colonel.

He was also responsible for arranging for the presence of civilians on board the submarine USS Greeneville during its 2001 collision with the Ehime Maru, a Japanese boat carrying high school students. As a result of a request by Macke, a civilian was at the helm of the submarine when the accident occurred. Nine Japanese civilians aboard the Ehime Maru were killed in the incident.

Macke refused to testify at the court of inquiry of Commander Scott Waddle, the Commanding Officer of the USS Greeneville at the time of the accident.

In Retirement

After his Navy career, Macke has served as a vice president of Wheat International Communications Corporation.