Mike Gilday
Birth nameMichael Martin Gilday
Born (1962-10-10) October 10, 1962
Lowell, Massachusetts, U.S.
AllegianceUnited States
Service/branchUnited States Navy
Years of service1985–2023
RankAdmiral
Commands held
Battles/warsGulf War
Awards
Alma mater
Spouse(s)Linda Gilday[1]

Michael Martin Gilday (born October 10, 1962) is a retired United States Navy officer who last served as the 32nd chief of naval operations from August 22, 2019 to August 14, 2023. Gilday commanded two destroyers, served as Director of the Joint Staff, commanded the Tenth Fleet/Fleet Cyber Command, and led Carrier Strike Group 8.[2]

Early life and education

Official midshipman portrait, 1985

Gilday was born in Lowell, Massachusetts, and is a 1985 graduate of the United States Naval Academy as a Surface Warfare Officer. He has also graduated with masters degrees from the Harvard Kennedy School and the National War College of National Defense University.[2][3] His wife's name is Linda and she is an engineer and program manager.[4][5]

Career

Gilday, right, speaks with the Nigerian Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Awwal Gambo, at the 24th International Seapower Symposium, September 16, 2021.

Gilday's previous tours include duty with USS Chandler, USS Princeton, as well as commanding the USS Higgins and USS Benfold and Destroyer Squadron 7. He also had staff assignments on the Bureau of Naval Personnel, Chief of Naval Operation (Strategic Plans and Policy Directorate) and staff to the vice chief of naval operations. His joint assignments include Naval Aide to the President and executive assistant to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.[2][6] Gilday was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal with Valor for his actions aboard Princeton when the ship was damaged by an Iraqi mine during the Persian Gulf War.[7]

As a flag officer, Gilday served as Director of Operations for NATO's Joint Force Command in Lisbon and Director of Operations for United States Cyber Command.[2] He assumed the duties of Commander, Fleet Cyber Command and United States Tenth Fleet on July 14, 2016,[8] was appointed Director of Operations for the Joint Chiefs of Staff in May 2018, and became Director of the Joint Staff from March 1, 2019.[9]

On July 11, 2019, Gilday was nominated for appointment as the next chief of naval operations (CNO).[10] On August 1, the United States Senate voted unanimously to award Gilday a fourth star following the Senate Armed Services Committee's recommendation that he succeed Admiral John M. Richardson as CNO in September 2019.[11]

On April 15, 2020, Gilday announced the Navy was considering reinstating Brett Crozier, earlier fired in relation to his controversial response to coronavirus disease on the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt.[12] Gilday and the acting United States Secretary of the Navy, James E. McPherson, recommended that Crozier be reinstated as captain of the Roosevelt on April 25, 2020.[13]

On August 10, 2020, Gilday was running on the Washington Navy Yard base, where he lives, when he "fell ill". Gilday was assisted by a passing Marine, and was taken to his physician. He underwent heart surgery for a pre-existing condition about two weeks later. He returned to work full-time on September 28.[14][15]

His term as chief of naval operations ended on August 14, 2023.[16][17]

Awards and decorations

Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Gold star
Gold star
Gold star
Gold star
V
Gold star
Gold star
Gold star
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze star
Silver star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Silver star
Surface Warfare Officer Pin[2][18]
Defense Distinguished Service Medal Navy Distinguished Service Medal
Defense Superior Service Medal w/ 3 bronze oak leaf clusters Legion of Merit w/ 2 gold award stars Bronze Star Medal
Defense Meritorious Service Medal Meritorious Service Medal w/ 2 award stars Joint Service Commendation Medal
Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal w/ "V" device and 2 award stars Joint Service Achievement Medal Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal w/ 1 award star
Combat Action Ribbon Joint Meritorious Unit Award w/ 3 oak leaf clusters Navy Unit Commendation w/ 1 bronze service star
Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation w/ 1 silver service star Navy "E" Ribbon with wreathed Battle E device National Defense Service Medal with service star
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with 4 service stars Southwest Asia Service Medal with 2 service stars Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Humanitarian Service Medal Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon w/ 1 silver service star
Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun[19] Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait) Navy Rifle Marksmanship Ribbon with Sharpshooter Device Navy Expert Pistol Shot Medal
Command at Sea insignia
Joint Chiefs of Staff Badge
Presidential Service Badge

References

  1. ↑ "Women's History Month – A Message from CNO and MRS. Linda Gilday".
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "U.S. Navy bio". Department of the Navy. July 14, 2016. Retrieved June 4, 2017.
  3. ↑ "Navy.mil - Chief of Naval Operations Bio". navy.mil. Retrieved August 22, 2019.
  4. ↑ U.S. Department of Defense. U. S. Naval Academy. (14 August 2023). "Secretary Austin Remarks at Chief of Naval Operations Relinquishment of Office Ceremony". approx 22:22 mins in C-Span website Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  5. ↑ Chief of Information. U.S. Navy Office of Information. (30 March 2023). "CNO, Linda Gilday Celebrate Women’s History Month, Release New Women In the Navy Book." US Navy website Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  6. ↑ "The Valley Dispatch: Lowell native leads Navy's Fleet Cyber Command". The Valley Dispatch. September 6, 2016. Retrieved June 6, 2017.
  7. ↑ "Inside the historic decision to deep-select the Navy's top officer". August 6, 2019.
  8. ↑ "ExecutiveGov: Michael Gilday Succeeds Jan Tighe as US Fleet Cyber Command Chief". July 19, 2016. Retrieved June 6, 2017.
  9. ↑ "Vice Adm. Michael Gilday". March 4, 2019. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
  10. ↑ "Navy to nominate three-star for CNO". July 11, 2019. Retrieved July 11, 2019.
  11. ↑ "Inside the historic decision to deep-select the Navy's top officer". August 6, 2019. Retrieved August 11, 2019.
  12. ↑ "Navy may reinstate fired captain to command of USS Roosevelt". NYT. April 15, 2020. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
  13. ↑ Cooper, Helene; Eric Schmitt and Thomas Gibbons-Neff (April 24, 2020). "Navy Leaders Recommend Reinstating Roosevelt Captain Fired Over Virus Warning". SF Gate.
  14. ↑ Navy Chief Fell Ill, Underwent Heart Surgery, Officials Say - Adm. Gilday was stricken in August while running, Gordon Lubold and Nancy A. Youssef, Wall Street Journal, 2020-09-29.
  15. ↑ Report: CNO 'fell ill,' had heart surgery last month, Navy Times, 2020-09-30.
  16. ↑ "3 acting chiefs, 3 black boxes: Army, Navy to join Marines without confirmed chief". Breaking Defense. August 3, 2023.
  17. ↑ "Webcast: Austin Hosts Chief of Naval Operations Relinquishment of Office". DVIDS. August 14, 2023. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
  18. ↑ "Military Times, Hall of Valor: Michael Martin Gilday". Retrieved June 6, 2017.
  19. ↑ "Defense Minister Hamada received a courtesy call from Admiral Michael M. Gilday, Chief of Naval Operations, U.S. Navy". Ministry of Defence, Japan. July 25, 2023.
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