In United States Naval Academy terminology, the Old Goat is the longest-serving Naval Academy graduate on active duty.[1][2] Since 2014, the designation has been accompanied by an award created by a previous Old Goat, Rear Admiral Alton L. Stocks. The award - a crystal decanter engraved with the initials and class years of previous holders - is passed to a new Old Goat upon the current holder's retirement.[3][4] There have been nine Old Goats so awarded, each after more than 35 years' service to the U.S. Navy.
Award Recipients[edit]
| Photo | Recipient | Class | Awarded title | Relinquished title | Last position | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Rear Admiral Alton L. Stocks |
1972 | Unknown | 8 March 2014 | Deputy Chief, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery | [3] |
 |
Vice Admiral Michael H. Miller |
1974 | 8 March 2014 | 1 August 2015 | Superintendent, United States Naval Academy | [1] |
 |
Admiral Jonathan W. Greenert |
1975 | 1 August 2015 | 18 September 2015 | Chief of Naval Operations | [4] |
 |
Admiral Mark E. Ferguson III |
1978 | 18 September 2015 | 1 July 2016 | Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe & U.S. Naval Forces Africa |
[4] |
 |
Admiral Cecil D. Haney |
1978 | 1 July 2016 | 17 January 2017 | Commander, U.S. Strategic Command | [5] |
 |
Admiral Harry B. Harris Jr. |
1978 | 17 January 2017 | 11 April 2018 | Commander, U.S. Pacific Command | |
 |
Admiral Kurt W. Tidd |
1978 | 11 April 2018 | 8 October 2018 | Commander, U.S. Southern Command | [6] |
 |
Admiral William K. Lescher |
1980 | 8 October 2018 | 30 August 2022 | Vice Chief of Naval Operations | [7] |
 |
Admiral James F. Caldwell Jr. |
1981 | 30 August 2022 | 10 January 2024 | Director, Naval Reactors | [8] |
 |
Admiral John C. Aquilino |
1984 | 9 January 2024 | Incumbent | Commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command | [9] |
The current Old Goat is Admiral John C. Aquilino (USNA '84), who has served as Commander, United States Indo-Pacific Command since 2021. He received the title and accompanying award from Admiral James F. Caldwell Jr., the outgoing director of Naval Reactors on 10 January 2024.[9]
Class of 1978[edit]
The Naval Academy's Class of 1978 is notable for producing four full (four-star) admirals, a distinction shared by only four prior USNA classes since the Academy's founding in 1845. As of 11 April 2018, all four admirals of the Class of 1978 have been recognized as the Old Goat.[10][11]
References[edit]
- ^ a b Matthew Hay Brown (23 July 2014). "New superintendent says Naval Academy will meet evolving challenges". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
- ^ ""Old Goat" Decanter Passed on to Oldest Active Duty USNA Graduate". YouTube. USNA Alumni Association & Foundation. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
- ^ a b CAPT Dora Lockwood (31 March 2014). "Navy Medicine Flag Officer Retires After 41 Years of Service". U.S. Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
- ^ a b c MC2 Nathan Wilkes (2 October 2015). "Adm. Ferguson Receives 'Old Goat' Award". U.S. Naval Academy. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "U.S. Strategic Command welcomes Hyten as new commander". U.S. Strategic Command. 3 November 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
- ^ Garamone, Jim (11 April 2018). "Pacom's Harris Passes 'Old Goat' Award to Southcom's Tidd". U.S. Department of Defense. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
- ^ Garamone, Jim (8 October 2018). "Passing the Decanter, the U.S. Naval Academy Way". U.S. Southern Command. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
- ^ "ADM William Lescher '80 passed the Old Goat Award to ADM Frank Caldwell '81 during an unofficial ceremony this month at the U.S. Naval War College". LinkedIn. United States Naval Academy. 30 August 2022. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
- ^ a b Naval Reactors [@USNavyNNPP] (January 9, 2024). "Besides being Director, @USNavyNNPP, Adm. Frank Caldwell has also been holding the Old Goat Award – as the longest serving @NavalAcademy graduate on active duty - passed today to Adm. John Aquilino, Commander, @INDOPACOM" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Naval Academy Class of '78 Shines with Four 4-Stars". U.S. Naval Academy. 19 January 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
- ^ "'78 Flag and General Officers". U.S. Naval Academy Class of 1978.[dead link]