James Franklin "Frank" Caldwell Jr. (born March 24, 1959) is a retired admiral in the United States Navy who last served as director of the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program, a job once held by the program's creator, Admiral Hyman G. Rickover.[2][3] He previously served as Naval Inspector General.[4]
James F. Caldwell Jr.
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| Born | (1959-03-24) March 24, 1959 (age 65) Green Bay, Wisconsin, United States |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/ | United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1981–2024 |
| Rank | Admiral |
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| Relations | Admiral Jehu V. Chase (great-grandfather)[1] |
Caldwell's opening statement at a Senate Armed Services Strategic Forces Subcommittee hearing on the FY2024 Navy nuclear program budget request Recorded April 18, 2023 | |
From August 31, 2022 to his retirement, Caldwell was the Navy's Old Goat, the longest serving United States Naval Academy graduate on active duty, having received the award and accompanying title from Admiral William K. Lescher.[5]
Caldwell received his commission graduating with distinction from the United States Naval Academy in 1981 with a Bachelor of Science in Marine Engineering; he is a fifth-generation Academy graduate. He holds a Master of Science in operations research from the Naval Postgraduate School.[6]
Caldwell’s early sea tours include serving in both the Atlantic and Pacific Fleets. His operational assignments include duty as a division officer on USS Boston (SSN-703), engineering officer on USS Alabama (SSBN-731) (GOLD), and executive officer on USS Buffalo (SSN-715).
Caldwell commanded USS Jacksonville (SSN-699) home ported in Norfolk, Virginia; Submarine Development Squadron 12 in New London, Connecticut; and Submarine Group 9 in Bangor, Washington. In his most recent afloat command, he commanded SUBPAC (Submarine Forces Pacific) as COMSUBPAC.
Ashore, Caldwell served on the Pacific Fleet Nuclear Propulsion Examining Board, and later as Undersea Warfare Requirements officer on the staff of Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet. He also served as senior member of the Naval Submarine Force’s Tactical Readiness Evaluation Team, on the Joint Staff as deputy director for Politico-Military Affairs for Europe, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Russia and Africa, and deputy commander for U.S. Strategic Command's Joint Functional Component Command for Global Strike in Omaha, Nebraska.[7][8]
On August 5, 2015, Caldwell was confirmed by the US Senate to become admiral. Caldwell assumed his duties as the seventh director of Naval Reactors on August 14, 2015, normally an eight-year term.[3]
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| Officer Submarine Warfare insignia | ||
| Navy Distinguished Service Medal with 2 gold award stars | ||
| Defense Superior Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster | Legion of Merit with 2 gold award stars | Meritorious Service Medal with gold award star |
| Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with 3 gold award stars | Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with 2 gold award stars | Joint Meritorious Unit Award |
| Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation with 3 bronze service stars | Navy "E" Ribbon with three Battle E awards | Navy Expeditionary Medal with 2 bronze service stars |
| National Defense Service Medal with 1 bronze service star | Global War on Terrorism Service Medal | Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with 3 bronze service stars |
| Navy Arctic Service Ribbon | Coast Guard Special Operations Service Ribbon | Navy Pistol Marksmanship Ribbon with sharpshooter device |
| Silver SSBN Deterrent Patrol insignia (5 awards) | ||
| Command at Sea insignia | ||
| Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge | ||
This article incorporates public domain material from United States Navy Biography, Vice Admiral James F. Caldwell Jr., Naval Inspector General. United States Navy. Retrieved 2014-11-22.
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| Preceded by | Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet 2010–2013 |
Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Naval Inspector General 2013–2015 |
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| Preceded by | Director, Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program 2015–2024 |
Succeeded by |
