Mike Gilday | |
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| Birth name | Michael Martin Gilday |
| Born | (1962-10-10)October 10, 1962 (age 62) Lowell, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service | United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1985–2023 |
| Rank | Admiral |
| Commands | |
| Battles / wars | Gulf War |
| Awards | |
| Alma mater | |
| Spouse(s) | Linda Gilday[1] |
Gilday's opening statement at aSenate Appropriations subcommittee hearing on the FY2024 Navy and Marine Corps budget request Recorded March 28, 2023 | |
Michael Martin Gilday (born October 10, 1962) is a retiredUnited States Navy officer who last served as the 32ndchief of naval operations from August 22, 2019 to August 14, 2023. Gilday commanded twodestroyers, served asDirector of the Joint Staff, commanded theTenth Fleet/Fleet Cyber Command, and ledCarrier Strike Group 8.[2]
Gilday was born inLowell, Massachusetts, and is a 1985 graduate of theUnited States Naval Academy as a surface warfare officer. He has also graduated with masters degrees from theHarvard Kennedy School and theNational War College ofNational Defense University.[2][3] His wife's name is Linda and she is an engineer and program manager.[4][5]
Gilday's previous tours include duty withUSS Chandler,USS Princeton, executive officer ofUSS Gettysburg as well as commanding theUSS Higgins andUSS Benfold andDestroyer Squadron 7. He also had staff assignments on theBureau of Naval Personnel, Chief of Naval Operation (Strategic Plans and Policy Directorate) and staff to thevice chief of naval operations. His joint assignments include Naval Aide to the President and executive assistant to thechairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.[2][6] Gilday was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal with Valor for his actions aboardPrinceton when the ship was damaged by an Iraqi mine during the Persian Gulf War.[7]
As aflag officer, Gilday served as Director of Operations forNATO's Joint Force Command in Lisbon and Director of Operations forUnited States Cyber Command.[2] He assumed the duties of Commander,Fleet Cyber Command andUnited States Tenth Fleet on July 14, 2016,[8] was appointed Director of Operations for theJoint Chiefs of Staff in May 2018, and becameDirector of the Joint Staff from March 1, 2019.[9]
On July 11, 2019, Gilday was nominated for appointment as the nextchief of naval operations (CNO).[10] On August 1, theUnited States Senate voted unanimously to award Gilday a fourth star following the Senate Armed Services Committee's recommendation that he succeed AdmiralJohn M. Richardson as CNO in September 2019.[7]
On April 15, 2020, Gilday announced the Navy was considering reinstatingBrett Crozier, earlier fired in relation to his controversial response tocoronavirus disease on theaircraft carrierUSS Theodore Roosevelt.[11] Gilday and the actingUnited States Secretary of the Navy,James E. McPherson, recommended that Crozier be reinstated as captain of theRoosevelt on April 25, 2020.[12]
On August 10, 2020, Gilday was running on theWashington Navy Yard base, where he lives, when he "fell ill". Gilday was assisted by a passing Marine, and was taken to his physician. He underwent heart surgery for a pre-existing condition about two weeks later. He returned to work full-time on September 28.[13][14]
His term as chief of naval operations ended on August 14, 2023.[15][16]
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| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Director of Operations of theUnited States Cyber Command 2014–2016 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Commander ofUnited States Tenth Fleet andFleet Cyber Command 2016–2018 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Director for Operations of theJoint Staff 2018–2019 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Director of the Joint Staff 2019 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Chief of Naval Operations 2019–2023 | Succeeded by |
