Joseph Wilson Prueher

Admiral, U.S. Navy

Joseph Wilson Prueher was born on 25 November 1942. A native of Tennessee, Prueher is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy with the Class of 1964. A Naval Aviator, he is a combat veteran of the Vietnam War where he flew as an A-6 pilot. He also served as the seventy-third Commandant of Midshipmen at the U.S. Naval Academy.

He delivered the "letter of the two sorries" which defused the Hainan Island incident in 2001.

Medals and Awards

Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Navy Distinguished Service Medal
Legion of Merit (4 Awards)
Distinguished Flying Cross (2 Awards)
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal (3 Awards) 3 individual
Air Medal with Combat "Valor" Device and Bronze Strike/Flight Numeral 8 (3 Awards)
Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (3 Awards) with Combat "Valor" Device
Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (3 Awards) with Combat "Valor" Device

Badges

Naval Aviator Insignia

Honors

• In 1997, he was honored with the Naval War College Distinguished Graduate Leadership Award

• In December 1998 he was appointed an Honorary Officer of the Order of Australia, "for distinguished service in the promotion of Australian and United States of America Defence relations."

• He holds a Master's degree in International Affairs from George Washington University and, in 2001, received the Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award by George Washington University.

In Retirement

Admiral Prueher served as Ambassador to the People's Republic of China from 16 November 1999 to 1 May 2001.

Prueher is a director of Fluor Corporation, Irving, TX; Emerson Electric Co., St. Louis, MO; and AMERIGROUP Corporation, Virginia Beach, VA.