Admiral Gary Roughead, USN (Ret.), appointed in September 2007 as chief of naval operations (CNO) by President George W. Bush, will spend next year at the Hoover Institution as the Annenberg Distinguished Visiting Fellow, Director John Raisian announced today.
Roughead, who as CNO focused on military modernization until his retirement from active duty in September, plans to spend 2012 at Hoover examining the military’s critical role in the American way of life. Working in collaboration with former cabinet members, Distinguished Fellow George P. Shultz and Senior Fellow William Perry, who are also in residence at Hoover, Roughead’s research will contribute substantially to the Institution’s focus on the role of military history on current public policy formation.
“To focus on policy research and to collaborate with esteemed colleagues is an extraordinary opportunity to remain engaged in public policy,” Roughead said. “I am pleased to accept the prestigious offer of the Hoover Institution to serve as the Annenberg fellow.”
“Admiral Roughead is a visionary when it comes to the role of the military in national security,” Raisian said. “Moreover, he brings deep perspective to the policy arena that is our focus at Hoover. Too much policy dialogue has an absence of history, implicitly suggesting that all new policy issues are sufficiently different that one does not benefit from reflection on past idea formation and practice; we think differently at Hoover and anticipate that Admiral Roughead’s active presence will help us look at how to balance current policy dialogue with more-historical perspectives.”
Among his six operational commands, Roughead, a graduate of the United States Naval Academy, was the first officer to command both classes of Aegis ships — the USS Barry (DDG 52) and the USS Port Royal (CG 73). He is one of only two officers to have led both the Pacific and Atlantic Fleets, commanding the US Pacific Fleet and Joint Task Force 519, as well as US Fleet Forces Command, responsible for ensuring that navy forces were trained, ready, equipped, and prepared to operate around the world, where and when needed.
“We look forward eagerly to having Gary Roughead as our colleague,” Shultz said. ”He will bring vast experience, an exceptional knowledge base, and a sharp, critical mind to all our discussions.”
Ashore, Roughead served as commandant of the United States Naval Academy; the Department of the Navy’s chief of legislative affairs; and deputy commander, US Pacific Command. He has defended the navy’s shipbuilding plans on Capitol Hill numerous times against lawmakers that called the budget underfunded and unrealistic. Regardless of budget hurdles, Roughead told lawmakers in February 2008 that he believes a 313-ship fleet is only the floor for the navy, which would mean billions in additional funding to increase the nation’s fleet.
Roughead's awards include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and various unit and service awards.
