Vice
Admiral Gary Roughead is the Commander, U.S. Second Fleet (C2F); Commander,
NATO Striking Fleet Atlantic (CSFL); and Commander, Naval Forces North Fleet
East (CNNFE) in Norfolk, Va.
Second Fleet is responsible for U.S. Navy operations and defense of U.S. interests in the Atlantic Fleet Area of Responsibility. Commander, Second Fleet exercises operational control of over 100 surface ships, 1000 aircraft, and 62,000 personnel. Second Fleet is also responsible for the training and certification of all deploying East Coast Carrier Strike Groups and Expeditionary Strike Groups. In his role as CSFL, Vice Adm. Roughead commands a multinational force whose primary mission is to deploy a Combined Joint Task Force (CJTF) to deter aggression and protect NATO interests. As CNNFE, Vice Adm. Roughead serves as the operational commander for the military response to maritime homeland defense threats, and supports USCG efforts against maritime homeland security along the east coast of the United States and U.S. territories in the Caribbean. Vice Adm. Roughead’s combined staff consists of land, sea, and air experts from U.S services as well as 11 other NATO nations.
Vice Adm. Roughead is a 1973 graduate of the United States Naval Academy and a Surface Warfare Officer. His initial assignment was in the Weapons Department on USS Josephus Daniels. This was followed by duty as Executive Officer on the patrol gunboats USS Douglas and USS Tacoma, the former homeported in Naples, Italy. He was the commissioning Chief Engineer in USS O'Bannon and Executive Officer in USS Spruance.
Tours ashore include assignments as Flag Lieutenant to Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet; the Surface Warfare Analyst at the Navy's Office of Program Appraisal; Administrative Aide to the Secretary of the Navy; Executive Assistant to the Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Pacific Command; Commandant, United States Naval Academy; and the Department of the Navy’s Chief of Legislative Affairs.
Vice Adm. Roughead was the commissioning Commanding Officer of the Aegis destroyer USS Barry and upon assuming command of the cruiser USS Port Royal, became the first naval officer to command both classes of Aegis ships. While commanding, Port Royal was awarded a Meritorious Unit Commendation and received the Golden Anchor Award for excellence in retention and crew support programs. His previous afloat command was Commander, Cruiser Destroyer Group Two and the George Washington Battle Group, deploying to the Arabian Gulf and Mediterranean Sea.
Vice Adm. Roughead's awards include the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, and various unit and service awards.
Updated: 1 April 2004
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