Nomination of Admiral William J. Crowe, Jr., To Be Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

The President today announced his intention to nominate Adm. William J. Crowe, Jr., to serve as the next Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Department of Defense. He will succeed Gen. John W. Vessey, Jr., who is retiring on September 30, 1985. General Vessey has served as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff since June 1982.

From 1954 to 1955, Admiral Crowe served as assistant to the naval aide to the President. In 1958 he was assigned as aide and assistant to the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Plans and Policy), Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. His first command was U.S.S. Trout (SS-566), homeported in Charleston, SC. He served as commanding officer from 1960 to 1962. Upon completion of postgraduate education in 1966, he assumed commanding officer duties of submarine division 31, homeported in San Diego, CA. In 1967 he became the head of East Asia and Pacific Branch, Politico-Military Division, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. This was followed 3 years later by assignment as senior adviser to the Vietnamese Navy Riverine Force, Republic of Vietnam. After this tour, he served as director of the Office for Mio Cronesian Status Negotiations, Department of the Interior, until 1973. In 1973 Admiral Crowe received his promotion to rear admiral and subsequently was assigned as Deputy Director, Strategic Plans, Policy, Nuclear Systems and NSC Affairs Division, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. In 1975-1976 he served as Director, East Asia and Pacific Region, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (International Security Affairs). On June 30, 1976, he assumed duties as Commander Middle East Force, a post which he held until July 1977 when he returned to Washington, DC, for another tour of duty in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, Plans and Policy. He was assigned as Commander in Chief, Allied Forces, Southern Europe, in 1980-1983. Since July 1983 he has been serving as Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Command.

Admiral Crowe graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy (B.A., 1947), Stanford University (M.S., 1956), and Princeton University (M.A., 1964; Ph.D., 1965). He is married and has three children. He was born January 2, 1925, in La Grange, KY.