Samuel J. Locklear

Samuel J. Locklear III
Locklear in March 2012
Born	October 28, 1954 Macon, Georgia, U.S.
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Navy
Years of service	1972–1973 1977–2015
Rank	Admiral
Commands held	U.S. Pacific Command U.S. Naval Forces Europe - U.S. Naval Forces Africa Allied Joint Force Command Naples Director, Navy Staff U.S. Third Fleet
Battles/wars	Operation Enduring Freedom Operation Iraqi Freedom Operation Odyssey Dawn (Libya)
Awards	Defense Distinguished Service Medal (2) Navy Distinguished Service Medal (2) Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit (5) Bronze Star Honorary Officer of the Order of Australia (Australia)

Samuel Jones "Sam" Locklear III, (born October 28, 1954) is a former United States Navy admiral who last served as the commander of the U.S. Pacific Command from March 9, 2012 to May 27, 2015. Prior to that, he served as Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe - U.S. Naval Forces Africa and NATO's Commander, Allied Joint Force Command Naples. Prior to that, he served as Director, Navy Staff from July 2009 to October 2010. He retired from the Navy on July 1, 2015, after 39 years of service.

Early life and education

Locklear enlisted in the Navy in March 1972 at the age of 17. His basic training and active service was placed on hold when he was accepted into the United States Naval Academy after graduating from high school in 1973. Locklear graduated from the Naval Academy in 1977, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in operations analysis.

Career

After receiving his commission as an ensign, he served aboard USS William V. Pratt as Main Propulsion Assistant and Missile Fire Control Officer. He was then selected for training and service in the Navy Nuclear Propulsion program, and served as Electrical Principal Assistant in USS Carl Vinson. Graduating with "Top Gun" honors from the Surface Warfare Department Head School, he served as Operations Officer and Engineering Officer in USS Callaghan, and as Executive Officer in USS Truxtun. Subsequently, he commanded USS Leftwich and served as Commander, Destroyer Squadron 2 deploying with the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Battle Group. In October 2002, he assumed command of Cruiser-Destroyer Group 5 and Nimitz Strike Group deploying to the Persian Gulf in 2003 in direct support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

Ashore, Locklear has served as a Company Officer in the Office of the Commandant, United States Naval Academy and later as the 78th Commandant of Midshipmen. In Washington, D.C., he served as Chief of the Regional Engagement and Presence Joint Warfare Capabilities Assessment Branch in the Strategic Plans and Policy Directorate of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, as Executive Assistant to the Vice Chief of Naval Operations, and as Deputy Director for Requirements in the Assessment Division (N81D). In February 2004, he returned to the OPNAV Staff as Deputy Director for Surface Warfare (N76B), and in October 2004, he became the Director of the Assessment Division (N81). In October 2005 he became the Director of the Programming Division (N80). From May 2007 to July 2009, he served as Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet, and from July 2009 as Director, Navy Staff (N09B).

Adm. Locklear is a 1992 graduate of the National Defense Industrial College of the Armed Forces, holds a Master of Public Administration degree from the George Washington University, and attended the Senior Officials in National Security course at the Maxwell School of Syracuse University.

His personal decorations include the Navy Distinguished Service Medal with gold star, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit with four gold stars, Bronze Star, Navy Meritorious Service Medal with three gold stars, Navy Commendation Medal with gold star, Navy Achievement Medal with gold star, and numerous unit and campaign awards.

In March 2011, he commanded US Navy forces enforcing the Libyan no-fly zone, with overall command going to General Carter Ham.

Locklear has called climate change (global warming) the biggest worry for the United States.^[1][2] On 9 April 2013, Jim Inhofe, the ranking member of the Senate Committee on Armed Services asked Locklear to clarify his position of climate change as the principal national security threat. Locklear cited USAID government statistics on recent Indo-Asian natural disasters and the long range planning challenges of our security partners and allies in the region.^[3]

Awards and decorations

Surface Warfare Officer badge

United States Pacific Command badge

	Defense Distinguished Service Medal with 1 bronze oak leaf cluster
	Navy Distinguished Service Medal with 1 gold award star
	Defense Superior Service Medal
	Legion of Merit with four award stars
	Bronze Star
	Meritorious Service Medal with 3 award stars
	Navy Commendation Medal with 1 award star
	Navy Achievement Medal with 2 award stars
	Navy Unit Commendation
	Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation with 1 bronze service star
	Navy "E" Ribbon
	National Defense Service Medal with 2 service stars
	Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
	Southwest Asia Service Medal
	Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
	Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
	Armed Forces Service Medal
	Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with 1 silver service star
	Navy & Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon
	Honorary Officer of the Order of Australia
	NATO Meritorious Service Medal
	Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)

References

1. Chief of US Pacific forces calls climate biggest worry March 9, 2013 Boston Globe
2. Navy Admiral Samuel J. Locklear says the biggest security threat in the Pacific region is climate change. March 12, 2013 Wall Street Journal
3. "C-SPAN". c-spanvideo.org. C-SPAN. April 9, 2013. Retrieved August 9, 2016. U.S. Pacific Command Operations Admiral Samuel Locklear testified on U.S. Pacific Command programs and operations. Much of the hearing was focused on mounting tensions between North and South Korea. Admiral Locklear said American defenses could intercept a ballistic missile launched by North Korea and forces were prepared for limited military action by North Korea. Other topics included the U.S. military posture in Asia Pacific, China’s role with North Korea, and the impact of automatic defense cuts known as sequestration. Span. Retrieved April 11, 2013.

External links

• Official biography This work is in the public domain.