Christopher W. Grady

Rear Adm. Grady, as commander, Carrier Strike Group 1, prepares food on Thanksgiving dinner for sailors aboard the USS Carl Vinson, November 27, 2014.

Christopher Grady was born in Portsmouth, Virginia[1] and raised in Newport, Rhode Island. He is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame,[5] and was commissioned an ensign in the United States Navy through the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps program in 1984.[6] Grady is a distinguished graduate of Georgetown University, where he earned a Master of Arts in National Security Studies while concurrently participating as a fellow in Foreign Service at the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service. He is also a distinguished graduate of the National War College of National Defense University, earning a Master of Science in National Security Affairs.[7]

Grady's initial sea tour was aboard USS Moosbrugger (DD 980), where he served as combat information center officer and anti-submarine warfare officer. As a department head, he served as weapons control officer and combat systems officer in USS Princeton (CG 59). He was the commanding officer of Mine Counter Measure Rotational Crew Echo in USS Chief (MCM 14), and deployed to the Persian Gulf in command of USS Ardent (MCM 12). Grady then commanded USS Cole (DDG 67) deploying as part of NATO's Standing Naval Forces Mediterranean. He then commanded Destroyer Squadron 22, deploying to the Persian Gulf as sea combat commander for the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group (TRCSG) in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

Vice Adm. Grady visits the Lindormen-class support vessel EML Wambola (A433) during exercise BALTOPS 2017, June 10, 2017.

Ashore, Grady first served on the staff of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and then as naval aide to the chief of naval operations. He also served on the staff of the chief of naval operations as assistant branch head, Europe and Eurasia Politico-Military Affairs Branch (OPNAV N524). He then served as executive assistant to the navy's Chief of Legislative Affairs. Next, he served as the deputy executive secretary of the National Security Council in the White House. He then went on to serve as the executive assistant to the chief of naval operations.

Grady's flag assignments include the Director of the Maritime Operations Center (N2/3/5/7), commander, United States Pacific Fleet; Commander, Carrier Strike Group 1 and the Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group, where he deployed for nearly ten months to the Western Pacific and the Persian Gulf conducting combat operations in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. He was then commander of Naval Surface Force Atlantic.

Grady is sworn in as the 12th vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff by Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on December 20, 2021.

As a vice admiral, he commanded the United States Sixth Fleet from October 28, 2016[8] to March 1, 2018, relinquishing command to Vice Admiral Lisa Franchetti.[9] On October 31, 2017, the United States Senate confirmed Grady's reappointment to the rank of vice admiral and assignment as the assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.[10][11]

On February 28, 2018, Grady was nominated by President Donald Trump for appointment to the rank of admiral and assignment as commander of United States Fleet Forces Command,[12] and confirmed by the Senate on March 22, 2018.[13] He assumed command of USFFC and Naval Forces Northern Command on May 4, 2018[14] and of commander, Naval Forces Strategic Command (NAVSTRAT) and United States Strategic Command Joint Force Maritime Component Command (JFMCC) on February 1, 2019.[15][16]

Grady accepts the 'Old Salt' Award on board USS Cole (DDG 67) on April 30, 2021.

In addition to the below, the University of Notre Dame Alumni Board presented Grady with the Rev. William Corby, C.S.C., Award on September 28, 2019. Established in 1985, the award is conferred on alumni who have distinguished themselves in military service.[21]

	Surface Warfare Officer Insignia
	Command at Sea insignia
	Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge
	Presidential Service Badge

	Defense Distinguished Service Medal[22]
	Navy Distinguished Service Medal
	Defense Superior Service Medal
	Legion of Merit with four gold award stars
	Meritorious Service Medal with four award stars
	Joint Service Commendation Medal
	Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Combat V and three award stars
	Joint Service Achievement Medal
	Joint Meritorious Unit Award
	Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation with one bronze service star
	Navy "E" Ribbon with three Battle "E" devices
	Navy Expeditionary Medal
	National Defense Service Medal with service star
	Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
	Southwest Asia Service Medal with service star
	Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
	Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
	Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with silver service star
	Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)
	Navy Expert Rifleman Medal
	Navy Expert Pistol Shot Medal

• Surface Navy Association's "Old Salt" Award [4]