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First Name: Edmund

Last Name: Giambastiani

Birthplace: Canastota, NY, USA

Gender: Male

Branch: Navy (present)

Rating:

Middle Name: P.



Date of Birth: 04 May 1948



Rank or Rate: Admiral

Years Served: 1970 - 2007
Edmund P. Giambastiani, Jr.

   
Graduate, U.S. Naval Academy, Class of 1970

Biography:

Edmund P. Giambastiani, Jr.

Admiral, U.S. Navy

Edmund P. Giambastiani, Jr. was born on 4 May 1948 in Canastota, NY. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy with leadership distinction in the Class of 1970. He has been awarded numerous decorations but is most proud of his 19 unit awards and commendations because they recognize the participation and accomplishments of the entire team.

Giambastiani's operational assignments have included several in which he was responsible for both demanding at-sea operations and the development of new technologies and experimental processes. Early sea assignments included USS Puffer and USS Francis Scott Key (BLUE). While assigned to USS Puffer, he was a 1973 winner of the Fleet Commander's Junior Officer Submarine Shiphandling Competition. He commanded the NR-1 Deep Submergence Craft, the Navy's only nuclear powered deep diving ocean engineering and research submarine and USS Richard B. Russell, where the crew was awarded three consecutive Battle Efficiency "E"s, three Navy Unit Commendations, and two Fleet Commander Silver Anchors for excellence in enlisted retention.

Giambastiani also led Submarine Development Squadron Twelve, an operational submarine squadron that also serves as the Navy's Warfare Center of Excellence for submarine doctrine and tactics. Established in 1949, Submarine Development Squadron Twelve is the oldest experimental unit of its kind in the U.S. military. He served as the first Director of Strategy and Concepts at the Naval Doctrine Command, as well as Commander, Atlantic Fleet Submarine Force; Commander, Submarines Allied Command Atlantic; and Commander, Anti-Submarine and Reconnaissance Forces Atlantic in Norfolk, VA.

Giambastiani's other shore and staff assignments include duties as an Enlisted Program Manager at the Navy Recruiting Command Headquarters, Washington, DC, in the early days of the all-volunteer force; Special Assistant to the Deputy Director for Intelligence, Central Intelligence Agency; and, a fellowship with the Chief of Naval Operations' Strategic Studies Group.

As a flag officer, he served as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Resources, Warfare Requirements and Assessments for the Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet; Director of Submarine Warfare for the Chief of Naval Operations; Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Resources, Requirements, and Assessments; and as the Senior Military Assistant to Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld.

On 2 October 2002, Giambastiani was promoted to the four-star rank of Admiral and assigned as Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic (SACLANT) and Commander, U.S. Joint Forces Command (CDRUSJFCOM). In 2003, he became Supreme Allied Commander Transformation (SACT) and Commander, U.S. Joint Forces Command (CDRUSJFCOM) where he led the transformation of NATO and U.S. military forces, capabilities and doctrines and the introduction of new technologies until August 2005.

Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

On 12 August 2005, Admiral Giambastiani was sworn in as the seventh Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; he was the third naval officer to hold that position.

As Vice Chairman, Admiral Giambastiani chaired the Joint Requirements Oversight Council, co-chaired the Defense Acquisition Board, and served as a member of the National Security Council Deputies Committee, the Nuclear Weapons Council and the Missile Defense Executive Board. In addition, he worked with the Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon England as Co-Chair of the Deputies Advisory Working Group, which oversees implementation of the 2006 Quadrennial Defense Review and other high level Departmental business issues.

On 4-6 May 2007, he visited Tunisia, meeting with high-ranking military and civilian officials, including his Tunisian counterparts and Tunisian Foreign Minister Abdelwaheb Abdallah and Defense Minister Kamel Morjane. He went to the North Africa American Cemetery and Memorial on the outskirts of Tunis to pay his respects to fallen U.S. soldiers who had died there during the Tunisia campaign of World War II.

Admiral Giambastiani retired from the Navy on 27 July 2007.

Medals and Awards

Defense Distinguished Service Medal (2 Awards)

Navy Distinguished Service Medal (5 Awards)

Legion of Merit (4 Awards)

Meritorious Service Medal (3 Awards)

Navy Commendation Medal (2 Awards)

Joint Meritorious Unit Award

Navy Unit Commendation (5 Awards)

Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation (5 Awards)

Navy "E" Ribbon w/ Wreathed Battle E device (8 awards)

Navy Expeditionary Medal (2 Awards)

National Defense Service Medal (3 awards)

Vietnam Service Medal with Bronze Campaign Star

Global War on Terrorism Service Medal

Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (4 Awards)

Navy Recruiting Service Ribbon

Commander of the French National Order of the Legion of Honor

Knight Grand Cross of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (GBE) (United Kingdom)

NATO Meritorious Service Medal

Order of Merit (Military), Commander Cross with Star (Hungary)

Order of the Cross of the Eagle, First Class (Estonia)

Meritorious Service Cross (M.S.C.) (Canada)

Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation (Republic of Vietnam)

Civil Actions Honor Medal Unit Citation (Republic of Vietnam)

Vietnam Campaign Medal (Republic of Vietnam)

Navy Expert Rifleman Medal

Navy Pistol Marksmanship Ribbon


Badges

Submarine Warfare Insignia

Deep Submergence Insignia

Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge

Office of the Secretary of Defense Identification Badge

In Retirement

Admiral Giambastiani currently serves as a guiding coalition member of the Project on National Security Reform. He also serves on the Board of Trustees of the Mitre Corporation.

On 8 October 2009, airplane maker Boeing Co. announced that Giambastiani Jr. had been elected to its Board of Directors, effective immediately. The Seattle Times reports that "In a statement, Boeing Chairman and Chief Executive Jim McNerney indicated that the addition of Giambastiani, who was the second-highest ranking officer in the U.S. military, is intended [...] to boost Boeing's influence with the Pentagon."

Personal

Giambastiani's interests include amateur radio, for which he holds the call sign N4OC.



Honoree ID: 523   Created by: MHOH

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