John Christopher Aquilino[2] (born 1961)[3] is a retired United States Navy admiral who last served as the commander of United States Indo-Pacific Command from 2021 to 2024.[4] He previously served as the commander of the United States Pacific Fleet[5] and before that, commander of the United States Fifth Fleet and Combined Maritime Forces.
John C. Aquilino
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| Birth name | John Christopher Aquilino |
| Nickname(s) | Lung[1] |
| Born | 1961 (age 62–63) Huntington, New York, U.S. |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/ | United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1984–2024 |
| Rank | Admiral |
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| Alma mater | United States Naval Academy (BS) |
Aquilino's opening statement at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on the 2022 USINDOPACOM posture Recorded March 10, 2022 | |
Aquilino was also the Navy's Old Goat, the longest serving United States Naval Academy graduate on active duty, having received the title and accompanying decanter from James F. Caldwell Jr. on January 9, 2024.[6]
Aquilino graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1984, earning a Bachelor of Science in Physics. He subsequently entered flight training and earned his wings in August 1986. Aquilino graduated from the Navy Fighter Weapons School (Top Gun) and the Joint Forces Staff College, and completed Harvard Kennedy School's Executive Education Program in National and International Security.[7]
Aquilino's operational assignments include numerous fighter squadrons flying the F-14 A/B Tomcat and the F/A-18 C/E/F Hornet. His fleet assignments include the Ghost Riders of Fighter Squadron (VF) 142 and the Black Aces of VF-41. He commanded the Red Rippers of VF-11, Carrier Air Wing 2 and Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 2/George H.W. Bush Strike Group. He has made extended deployments in support of Operations Deny Flight, Deliberate Force, Southern Watch, Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.[7]
Aquilino's shore tour assignments include duties as an adversary instructor pilot flying the A-4, F-5 and F-16N aircraft for the Challengers of VF-43; operations officer of Strike Weapons and Tactics School, Atlantic; flag aide to the vice chief of naval operations; special assistant for weapons and advanced development in the Office of the Legislative Affairs for the Secretary of Defense; director of air wing readiness and training for Commander, Naval Air Forces, Atlantic Fleet; and executive assistant to the commander, United States Fleet Forces Command.[7]
Aquilino's flag assignments include director of strategy and policy (J5), United States Joint Forces Command; deputy director, joint force coordinator (J31), the Joint Staff; commander, CSG-2, director of maritime operations, United States Pacific Fleet (N04); deputy chief of naval operations for operations, plans and strategy (N3/N5); and as commander, United States Naval Forces Central Command, United States 5th Fleet, Combined Maritime Forces.[7]
Aquilino assumed duties as commander, United States Pacific Fleet, on May 17, 2018, the 63rd commander since the fleet's Pearl Harbor headquarters was established in February 1941.[8] He was relieved of the same duties on the morning of April 30, 2021, by Stephen T. Koehler before relieving Philip S. Davidson as commander of Indo-Pacific Command later that day.[4]
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Naval Aviator insignia |
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Command at Sea insignia |
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United States Indo-Pacific Command Badge |
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
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| Preceded by | Commander of Carrier Strike Group 2 2013–2014 |
Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Commander of the United States Naval Forces Central Command 2017–2018 |
Succeeded by |
| Commander of the United States Fifth Fleet 2017–2018 | ||
| Preceded by | Commander of the United States Pacific Fleet 2018–2021 |
Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Commander of the United States Indo-Pacific Command 2021–2024 | |
