
Thesuperintendent of the United States Naval Academy is its commanding officer. The position is a statutory office (10 U.S.C. § 8451a), and is roughly equivalent to thechancellor orpresident of an American civilian university. The officer appointed is, by tradition, a graduate of theUnited States Naval Academy. However, this is not an official requirement for the position.
The United States Naval Academy is organized much like a civilian college. The superintendent's principal duties include overseeing a civilian Academic Dean, who manages the academic program and faculty, and theCommandant of Midshipmen, who serves as dean of students and supervisor of all military and professional training. The superintendent, commandant, academic dean, and academic division directors sit on the academic board, which sets the academy's academic standards.[1]
| No. | Image | Start | End | Name | Class year[d] | Notability | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 September 1845 | 8 March 1847 | Franklin Buchanan | — | Commanded the USS Susquehanna during thePerry Expedition. Became the only fulladmiral in theConfederate Navy during theAmerican Civil War. He also commanded the ironcladCSSVirginia. | [a][2][3] | |
| 2 | 15 March 1847 | 1 July 1850 | George P. Upshur | — | Served in theUSSLexington, on theBrazil station, 1832–1834. He commanded the brigUSSTruxtun on her first cruise in theMediterranean in 1843–844. | [a][4][5] | |
| 3 | 1 July 1850 | 1 November 1853 | Cornelius K. Stribling | — | Served during theWar of 1812, theSecond Barbary War, theMexican–American War, and theAmerican Civil War. | [a][6] | |
| 4 | 1 November 1853 | 15 September 1857 | Louis M. Goldsborough | — | Served during theAmerican Civil War, during which he held several sea commands during the Civil War, including that of theNorth Atlantic Blockading Squadron. He was also noted for contributions to nautical scientific research as the first commander of theDepot of Charts and Instruments. | [a][7] | |
| 5 | — | 15 September 1857 | 9 September 1865 | George S. Blake | — | Served in theWest Indian Station and in theUnited States Coast Survey. | [a][8] |
| 6 | 9 September 1865 | 1 December 1869 | David D. Porter | — | The second U.S. Navy officer to attain the rank of admiral. Served in the Mexican War in the attack on the fort at the City of Vera Cruz. Fought in the Civil War, including at thecapture of New Orleans andSecond Battle of Fort Fisher, and in theVicksburg andRed River Campaigns | [a][9][10] | |
| 7 | 1 December 1869 | 22 September 1874 | John L. Worden | — | Commanded theUSS Monitor in theBattle of Hampton Roads. Commanded theEuropean Squadron from 1875 – 1877 | [a][11] | |
| 8 | 22 September 1874 | 1 July 1878 | Christopher R. P. Rodgers | — | Served in theMexican–American War, the Civil War, as President of theUnited States Naval Institute, and Commander-in-Chief of thePacific Squadron. | [a][12][13] | |
| 9 | 1 July 1878 | 2 August 1879 | Foxhall A. Parker | — | Executive officer of the navy yard atWashington, D.C. During the Civil War, he worked to protectAlexandria, Virginia after theFirst Battle of Bull Run. Had charge of several gunboats, a battery atFort Sumter, and later thePotomac Flotilla. A founder of theUnited States Naval Institute. | [a][14] | |
| 10 | 2 August 1879 | 13 June 1881 | George Balch | — | Commanded thePawnee during the Civil War, Governor of thePhiladelphia Naval Asylum, on theLight House Board, commander of thePacific Squadron. | [a][15] | |
| 11 | 13 June 1881 | 14 November 1881 | Christopher R. P. Rodgers | — | Served in theMexican–American War, the Civil War, as President of theUnited States Naval Institute, and Commander-in-Chief of thePacific Squadron. | [a][12][13] | |
| 12 | 14 November 1881 | 9 September 1886 | Francis M. Ramsay | 1856 | Chief of the NavyBureau of Navigation,Fleet Captain,South Atlantic Squadron, commanding officer ofGuerriere,Ossipee,Lancaster,Boston, andTrenton and atBoston andNew York as commandant of the Navy Yards. | [a][16] | |
| 13 | 9 September 1886 | 13 June 1890 | William Thomas Sampson | 1861 | Led theFlying Squadron to victory in theBattle of Santiago de Cuba during theSpanish–American War. | [a][17] | |
| 14 | — | 13 June 1890 | 15 November 1894 | Robert L. Phythian | 1856 | First superintendent of theNew York Nautical School and later superintendent of theU.S. Naval Observatory. | [a][18][19] |
| 15 | 15 November 1894 | 15 July 1898 | Philip H. Cooper | 1863 | Commander-in-Chief of theUnited States Asiatic Fleet, commander of theUSS Swatara | [a][20] | |
| 16 | 15 July 1898 | 15 March 1900 | Frederick V. McNair | 1857 | Superintendent of theNaval Observatory (1890-1892), Commander of theAsiatic Station (1895-1897), Served on the Atlantic blockade stations and Mississippi River patrols during the Civil War. | [a][21][22] | |
| 17 | 15 March 1900 | 6 November 1902 | Richard Wainwright | 1868 | Fought in Spanish–American War,commanded American forces during theSanto Domingo Affair, commanded the Second Division of theGreat White Fleet. | [a][23] | |
| 18 | 6 November 1902 | 1 July 1905 | Willard H. Brownson | 1865 | Commanded theUSS Yankee during theSpanish–American War,Commander-in-Chief of theUnited States Asiatic Fleet, Chief of theBureau of Navigation. | [b][24] | |
| 19 | 1 July 1905 | 15 July 1907 | James H. Sands | 1863 | Served as Governor of the NavalHome Squadron, president of the Naval Retirement Board, Commandant of thePhiladelphia Navy Yard, commanded theCoast Squadron. | [b][25][26] | |
| 20 | 15 July 1907 | 10 June 1909 | Charles J. Badger | 1873 | Commander in Chief,Atlantic Fleet, commanded theUSS Kansas, chairman of theGeneral Board during World War I | [b][c] | |
| 21 | — | 10 June 1909 | 15 May 1911 | John M. Bowyer | 1874 | Commanded theUSS Columbia,USS Illinois, andUSS Connecticut | [b][27] |
| 22 | 15 May 1911 | 7 February 1914 | John H. Gibbons | 1879 | Instructor at the Naval Academy, aide to theAssistant Secretary of the Navy, commanded theGeneral Alava,Dolphin,Charleston,Louisiana, andUtah | [b][28][29] | |
| 23 | 7 February 1914 | 20 September 1915 | William F. Fullam | 1877 | Commanded theUSS Chesapeake and theUSS Mississippi, awarded theNavy Cross, commanded the Reserve Force, Pacific Fleet, and Patrol Force. | [b][30] | |
| 24 | 20 September 1915 | 12 February 1919 | Edward W. Eberle | 1885 | ThirdChief of Naval Operations, commander of thePacific Fleet,Naval Gun Factory,USS Washington andUSS Pensacola | [b][31] | |
| 25 | 12 February 1919 | 5 July 1921 | Archibald H. Scales | 1887 | Served in theSpanish–American War, commanded theUSS Severn,USS Columbia, theBureau of Equipment,USS Hartford, | [b][32] | |
| 26 | 5 July 1921 | 23 February 1925 | Henry B. Wilson | 1881 | Commanded theUSSPennsylvania, Patrol Forces, Atlantic Fleet, U.S. Naval Forces, France, U.S.Atlantic Fleet and theU.S. Battle Fleet | [b][33] | |
| 27 | 23 February 1925 | 16 June 1928 | Louis M. Nulton | 1889 | Commanded landing parties ashore during theUnited States occupation of Veracruz, theBattle Fleet, and theUSSPennsylvania. | [b][34][35] | |
| 28 | 16 June 1928 | 1 May 1931 | Samuel S. Robison | 1888 | Founded a Naval Preparatory Academy in Pine Beach, New Jersey calledAdmiral Farragut Academy, commander of theUnited States Fleet. | [b] | |
| 29 | 1 May 1931 | 18 June 1934 | Thomas C. Hart | 1897 | CommandedUSSChicago, Submarine Division 2, Submarine Division 5,USSMississippi, Submarine Flotilla 3, Cruiser Division 6,United States Asiatic Fleet andABDAFLOAT | [b] | |
| 30 | 18 June 1934 | 1 February 1938 | David F. Sellers | 1894 | First person fromNew Mexico to graduate from theUnited States Naval Academy. Served in theSpanish–American War. Commanded theUSS Stewart (DD-13), the cruisersBirmingham andSalem the battleshipWisconsin, andAgamemnon. EarnedNavy Cross for service inWorld War I. Commanded theMaryland, theSpecial Service Squadron during theNicaraguan Uprising, wasJudge Advocate General of the Navy and Commander of theBattleships Battle Force, and theUnited States Fleet. | [b][36][37] | |
| 31 | 1 February 1938 | 1 February 1941 | Wilson Brown | 1902 | Vice admiral, served inWorld War I andWorld War II, commandedUSSParker,USSCalifornia,Groton Sub Base andTask Force 11. Naval aide to four presidents. | [b][38][39] | |
| 32 | 1 February 1941 | 31 January 1942 | Russell Willson | 1906 | Vice admiral, commanded Battleship Division 1. Inventor of the Navy Cipher Box. deputy commander in chief of theUnited States Fleet. | [b][40][41][42] | |
| 33 | 31 January 1942 | 16 August 1945 | John R. Beardall | 1908 | Rear admiral, naval aide toFranklin D. Roosevelt. Commanded theUSSVincennes. | [c][43] | |
| 34 | 16 August 1945 | 15 January 1947 | Aubrey W. Fitch | 1906 | Admiral, commandedUSSTerry,USSYankton,USSLuce,USSMahan,USSArctic,USSWright,USSLangley,NAS Hampton Roads,USSLexington,NAS PensacolaPatrol Wing 2, Carrier Division 1, Aircraft, South Pacific Force. | [c][44] | |
| 35 | 15 January 1947 | 28 April 1950 | James L. Holloway Jr. | 1919 | Admiral,Chief of Naval Personnel 1953–1957; commander in chief of allUnited States naval forces in the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean from 1957 to 1959, commanded the1958 American intervention in Lebanon. Key figure in establishment of theNaval Reserve Officer Training Corps. | [c][45][46] | |
| 36 | 28 April 1950 | 4 August 1952 | Harry W. Hill | 1916 | Admiral, commander ofUSSDewey,Wichita,Battleship Division Four, and the Fifth Amphibious Force. | [c][47] | |
| 37 | 4 August 1952 | 12 August 1954 | C. Turner Joy | 1921 | Vice admiral, commanded theUSSLitchfield,USSLouisville, aNaval Proving Ground and Naval Forces, Far East during theKorean War. | [c][48] | |
| 38 | 12 August 1954 | 16 March 1956 | Walter F. Boone | 1921 | Admiral, fought inWorld War II, commandedUSS Yorktown (CV-10),U.S. Naval Forces, Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean (1956–1958) and U.S. Military Representative,NATO Military Committee (1958–1960). | [c][49][50][51] | |
| 39 | 16 March 1956 | 27 June 1958 | William R. Smedberg III | 1926 | Vice admiral; commanded theUSSLansdowne,USSHudson,USSIowa,U.S. Second Fleet, the NATO Strike Fleet and chief of theBureau of Naval Personnel | [c][52] | |
| 40 | 27 June 1958 | 22 June 1960 | Charles L. Melson | 1927 | Vice admiral; served inWorld War II, theKorean War, and theCold War, commanded theUnited States First Fleet,United States Taiwan Defense Command andPresident of theNaval War College. | [c][53] | |
| 41 | 22 June 1960 | 18 August 1962 | John F. Davidson | 1929 | Commanded the submarinesMackerel andBlackfish duringWorld War II. Later led theUSSAlbany, the Joint U.S. Military Mission for Aid to Turkey and the Pacific Fleet Training Command. | [c][54] | |
| 42 | 18 August 1962 | 11 January 1964 | Charles Cochran Kirkpatrick | 1931 | Rear admiral, commanded the submarineUSS Triton duringWorld War II and served as chief information officer of the Navy. | [c][55] | |
| 43 | 11 January 1964 | 12 June 1965 | Charles S. Minter Jr. | 1937 | Vice admiral; commanded theUSSAlbemarle;USSIntrepid,Fleet Air Wing, Pacific; DeputyChief of Naval Operations (Logistics), and deputy chairman,NATO Military Committee. | [c][56] | |
| 44 | 12 June 1965 | 22 June 1968 | Draper L. Kauffman | 1933 | Rear admiral, organized the first Navy Demolition Teams, commanded U.S. Naval Forces in the Philippines and the9th Naval District | [c][57] | |
| 45 | — | 22 June 1968 | 20 July 1968 | Lawrence Heyworth Jr. | 1943 | Rear admiral, executive officer of Fighter Squadron 61, finalist in selection of theMercury Seven. | [c][58] |
| 46 | 20 July 1968 | 16 June 1972 | James F. Calvert | 1943 | Vice admiral, commanded theUSSTrigger,USSSkate,Cruiser Destroyer Flotilla Eight, and theFirst Fleet. | [c][59] | |
| 47 | 16 June 1972 | 1 August 1975 | William P. Mack | 1937 | Vice admiral, commanded theSeventh Fleet, author. | [c][60] | |
| 48 | 1 August 1975 | 28 August 1978 | Kinnaird R. McKee | 1951 | Admiral, led the Navy's Nuclear Power Program, commandedSubmarine Group 8 during theYom Kippur War. | [c][61] | |
| 49 | 28 August 1978 | 22 August 1981 | William P. Lawrence | 1951 | Vice admiral, commandedU.S. Third Fleet andFighter Squadron 143. WasChief of Naval Personnel. | [c][62] | |
| 50 | 22 August 1981 | 31 August 1983 | Edward C. Waller | 1949 | Vice admiral | [c][63] | |
| 51 | 31 August 1983 | 19 August 1986 | Charles R. Larson | 1958 | Admiral, led theUnited States Pacific Command. Served as the 51 and 55th superintendents. | [c][64] | |
| 52 | 19 August 1986 | 18 August 1988 | Ronald F. Marryott | 1957 | President andCEO of theGeorge C. Marshall Foundation, president and CEO of the Naval Academy Alumni Association, andPresident of theNaval War College. | [c][65] | |
| 53 | 18 August 1988 | 15 June 1991 | Virgil L. Hill Jr. | 1961 | Rear admiral, president ofValley Forge Military Academy and College, led a $23 million fundraising push at the USNA. | [c][66] | |
| 54 | 15 June 1991 | 1 August 1994 | Thomas C. Lynch | 1964 | Rear admiral, Director of the Navy Staff atthe Pentagon, reassigned after cheating scandal. | [c][67][68] | |
| 55 | 1 August 1994 | 4 June 1998 | Charles R. Larson | 1958 | Admiral, led theUnited States Pacific Command. Served as the 51 and 55th superintendents. | [c][64] | |
| 56 | 4 June 1998 | 7 June 2002 | John R. Ryan | 1967 | Vice admiral, commandedPatrol Wing 10,Patrol Squadron 31, andPatrol Squadron 11. Chancellor of theState University of New York. | [c][69][70] | |
| 57 | 7 June 2002 | 5 June 2003 | Richard J. Naughton | 1968 | Served inGulf War, commanded Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center,NAS Fallon andCarrier Group FOUR/Carrier Striking Force. | [c][71][72][73] | |
| 58 | 5 June 2003 | 1 August 2003 | Charles W. Moore Jr. | 1968 | Vice admiral; commander ofU.S. Naval Forces, Central Command, theFifth Fleet inBahrain, andDeputy Chief of Naval Operations, Fleet Readiness and Logistics. | [c].[74][75] | |
| 59 | 1 August 2003 | 8 June 2007 | Rodney P. Rempt | 1966 | Vice admiral; commander ofUSSAntelope,USSCallaghan, andUSSBunker Hill. President of theNaval War College. | [c][76] | |
| 60 | 8 June 2007 | 3 August 2010 | Jeffrey Fowler | 1978 | CommandedCharlotte (SSN-766),Submarine Squadron Three,Navy Recruiting Command,Submarine Group 8; and Task Forces 164/69. | [c][77] | |
| 61 | 3 August 2010 | 23 July 2014 | Michael H. Miller | 1974 | CommanderUSSJohn F. Kennedy (CV-67),USSCoronado (AGF-11),Carrier Strike Group Seven/Ronald Reagan Strike Group; directedWhite House Military Office. | [c][78] | |
| 62 | 23 July 2014 | 26 July 2019 | Walter E. Carter Jr. | 1981[79] | Vice admiral, 54th President of theU.S. Naval War College, commandedCarrier Strike Group Twelve andJoint Enabling Capabilities Command,USJFCOM. | [79][80] | |
| 63 | 26 July 2019 | 27 August 2023 | Sean Buck | 1983[81] | Vice admiral, chief of staff to the Director for Strategy, Plans, and Policy of theJoint Chiefs of Staff and led theU.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet. | [81] | |
| 64 | 27 August 2023 | 11 January 2024 | Fred Kacher | 1990 | Rear admiral, former vice director for operations of theJoint Chiefs of Staff; Acting Superintendent due to delay in confirmation of successor. | [82] | |
| 65 | 11 January 2024 | 15 August 2025 | Yvette M. Davids | 1989 | Vice admiral, commandedNaval Surface Forces andCarrier Strike Group 11. | [83] | |
| 66 | 15 August 2025 | Incumbent | Michael J. Borgschulte | 1991 | Lieutenant General, first Marine to hold the position | [84] |
A "—" in the class year column indicates a superintendent who is not an alumnus of the academy.
^ a: Callahan, Edward William; Hamersly, Lewis Randolph (1901).List of officers of the Navy of the United States and of the Marine Corps, from 1775 to 1900. Boston Public Library. New York : L.R. Hamersly & Co.
^ b: Hatch 1943, p. 273
^ c: "A Brief History of USNA". United States Naval Academy. Archived fromthe original on 10 October 2018.
^ d: "Superintendents of the USNA".United States Naval Academy Alumni Association. 2007-09-27. Archived fromthe original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved2019-10-12.
Robert L. Phythian New York Nautical School.