Henry G. Chiles, Jr.

Infobox Military Person
name= Henry G. Chiles, Jr.
born= 1938
died=
placeofbirth=Baltimore, Maryland
placeofdeath=


caption=Admiral Henry G. Chiles, Jr.
nickname=Hank; Hammering Hank
allegiance= United States of America
branch= United States Navy
serviceyears= 1960-1996
rank= Admiral
commands= USS "Gurnard" (SSN-662) Submarine Squadron Three Naval Training Center San Diego Submarine Group Eight Allied Submarines Mediterranean (NATO) Submarine Forces U.S. Atlantic Fleet Allied Submarines Atlantic (NATO) U.S. Strategic Command
unit=
battles=
awards=Navy Distinguished Service Medal
Legion of Merit (5)
laterwork=

Henry Goodman Chiles, Jr. is a retired United States Navy four star admiral who served as Commander in Chief, United States Strategic Command (USCINCSTRAT), from 1994 to 1996, the first naval officer to command all of the strategic nuclear forces of the United States.

Education

Henry G. Chiles, Jr. entered from the United States Naval Academy as a midshipman in 1956, graduating in 1960 with a Bachelor of Science degree. [ [http://www.usna60.com/about.htm Class of 1960] - United States Naval Academy] He studied at Keble College, Oxford University, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in Foreign Affairs in 1973, and received a Masters of Arts degree in Foreign Affairs from Keble College, Oxford University, studying politics, philosophy and economics, in 1986.

Naval career

Chiles was commissioned an ensign on 6 June 1960. His first tour of duty was on USS Borie (DD-704) from July, 1960 to September, 1961. He attended the U.S. Naval Submarine School in Groton, Connecticut until September 1962 and then Naval Nuclear Power Training Unit in Schenectady, New York. He was promoted to lieutenant (junior grade) while at Groton.

His first submarine duty was with USS|Triton|SSN-586|6 from April 1963 to January 1966. While on board "Triton", he was promoted to lieutenant.

Lt. Chiles' next assignment was as an engineering officer with the Blue crew of the nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine USS|Tecumseh|SSBN-628|6 from January 1966 to February 1968. He was on the staff of commander, Submarine Squadron 15 as the Material Officer until June 1970, where he made lieutenant commander. He reported to the pre-commissioning unit USS|Drum|SSN-677|6 and served as its executive officer [ [http://www.ussdrum.org/drum-history.html History of the USS "Drum" (SSN 677)] ] until September 1973, then reported for duty at the U.S. Naval Activities, United Kingdom. Upon his departure in September, 1975, he was promoted to commander.

Commander Chiles served at COMSUBPAC under instruction until December 1975 and then reported to USS|Gurnard|SSN-662|6 in February 1976. Following an under ice Arctic Ocean deployment, he assumed command of the "Gurnard" on 30 May 1976. The submarine also conducted a refueling overhaul in record time and a Western Pacific deployment before Chiles departed on 15 October 1979. From April 1980 until July 1983, Chiles was special assistant to the director of the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program, U.S. Department of Energy, conducting fleet liaison and directing the prospective commanding officer's course for Admiral Hyman G. Rickover and his relief, Admiral Kinnaird R. McKee. He was promoted to captain while at this assignment.

Captain Chiles served as commander, Submarine Squadron Three until July, 1985 and then reported to Naval Training Center San Diego as the center commander.

Chiles served as director, Strategic Submarine Division and Deputy Assistant Chief of Naval Operations for undersea warfare between July 1985 and September 1987 and was promoted to rear admiral (lower half).

Rear Admiral Chiles took command of Submarine Group Eight, and also served concurrently as NATO's Commander Allied Submarines Mediterranean, based in Naples, Italy until December 1990. He received his second star during this assignment.

Vice Admiral Chiles served as Commander Submarines U.S. Atlantic Fleet (COMSUBLANT), as well as NATO's Commander Allied Submarines Atlantic, from December 1990 to September 1993.

On 24 September 1993, Vice Admiral Chiles became the deputy commander-in-chief and chief of staff for the United States Strategic Command (STRATCOM) at Offutt Air Force Base.

Promoted to Admiral on 14 February 1993, Chiles took command of STRATCOM, the first U.S. flag officer to do so, a position that he held until his retirement on 21 February 1996. [ [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_pnav/is_199402/ai_655816453 U.S. Navy Release] ] [ [http://www.defenselink.mil/transcripts/transcript.aspx?transcriptid=191 DoD News Briefing - Thursday, November 9, 1995 - 1:30 p.m.] ] The primary focus of Chiles' tenure as USCINCSTRAT was adjusting the structure and mission for U.S. strategic nuclear forces in a post-Cold War environment. [ [http://www.fas.org/spp/starwars/congress/1994_h/s940420c.htm Strategic Command: U.S. Nuclear Deterrent Force Still Needed] , prepared statement of Admiral Henry G. Chiles Jr., USN, to the Senate Armed Services Committee, April 20, 1994.] [ [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/congress/1995_hr/s19950223-chiles.htm Managing a Stable Strategic Drawdown] , prepared statement of Admiral Henry G. Chiles Jr., USN, commander in chief, U.S. Strategic Command, before the Senate Armed Services Committee, February 23, 1995. ]

Awards and Decorations

During his career, Admiral Chiles has received the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with four gold stars in lieu of subsequent awards; the Meritorious Service Medal; the Navy Commendation Medal with one gold star in lieu of a second award; the Navy Unit Commendation with one bronze star; a Meritorious Unit Commendation awarded to Submarine Squadron 15; a Navy E Ribbon with two “Es’; a Navy Expeditionary Medal; the National Defense Service Medal; a Sea Service Deployment Ribbon; and an Overseas Service Ribbon. He is also a recipient of the Distinguished Graduate Award (DGA) of the Naval Academy Alumni Association in 2008 [ [http://www.usna.com/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=1488&srcid=418 Distinguished Graduate Award Recipients for 2008] - Naval Academy Alumni Association]

Retirement

Admiral Chiles serves as an adjunct fellow with the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CISC). [ [http://www.csis.org/About/NonResid_Experts/ Afiliated Advisers and Expert (Non-Resident] - Center for Strategic and International Studies] He is a member of the board of advisors of the National Military Family Association (NNFA). [ [http://www.nmfa.org/site/PageServer?pagename=board_of_advisors Board of Advisors] - National Military Family Association.] He is also a member of the Distinguished Advisory Board to the Dolphin Scholarship Foundation. [ [http://www.dolphinscholarship.org/Index.cfm?pageid=board Distinguished Advisory Board] - Dolphin Scholarship Foundation] Admiral Chiles chaired the National Nuclear Security Administration Advisory Committee, and he is a Distinguished Professor of Leadership at the U.S. Naval Academy. [ [http://www.thememoryhole.org/feds/nnsa-advisory/NNSAAdvisoryCommittee-Bios.pdf Biography - NNSA Advisory Committee] ] [ [http://www.thememoryhole.org/feds/nnsa-advisory/NNSA_AC_Members.pdf Member List - NNSA Advisory Committee] ]

Personal

Admiral Chiles is married to the former Katherine L. Pearson, and they have three sons: John, Peter and Henry.

Notes

External links

* [http://www.quarterdeck.org/book/cencoms/chiles.html Official biography]