Old Goat

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.

For the mountain, see Goat Range (Kananaskis).
The Old Goat decanter in the possession of ADM Mark Ferguson, Class of 1978.

Award Recipients
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 Incumbent Director, Naval Reactors [8]
Admiral Harry Harris accepts the Old Goat decanter from retired Admiral Cecil Haney, April 2017.

The current Old Goat is Admiral James F. Caldwell Jr. (USNA '81), who has served as Director, Naval Reactors since 2015 and is also the most senior U.S. Navy four-star admiral on active duty by virtue of rank (14 August 2015).[9] He received the title and accompanying award from Admiral William K. Lescher, the outgoing vice chief of naval operations on 31 August 2022.[8]

Class of 1978

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
  1. Matthew Hay Brown (23 July 2014). "New superintendent says Naval Academy will meet evolving challenges". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
  2. ""Old Goat" Decanter Passed on to Oldest Active Duty USNA Graduate". YouTube. USNA Alumni Association & Foundation. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
  3. 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.
  4. MC2 Nathan Wilkes (2 October 2015). "Adm. Ferguson Receives 'Old Goat' Award". U.S. Naval Academy. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
  5. "U.S. Strategic Command welcomes Hyten as new commander". U.S. Strategic Command. 3 November 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
  6. 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.
  7. Garamone, Jim (8 October 2018). "Passing the Decanter, the U.S. Naval Academy Way". U.S. Southern Command. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  8. "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.
  9. "United States Navy Flag Officers (Public), September 2022" (PDF). MyNavyHR. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 September 2022. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
  10. "Naval Academy Class of '78 Shines with Four 4-Stars". U.S. Naval Academy. 19 January 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
  11. "'78 Flag and General Officers". U.S. Naval Academy Class of 1978.
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