John C. Harvey Jr.
3rd Virginia Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs
In office January 11, 2014 – August 31, 2017
Governor	Terry McAuliffe
Preceded by	James W. Hopper
Succeeded by	Carlos Hopkins
Personal details
Born	(1951-12-17) December 17, 1951 (age 72) Baltimore, Maryland
Spouse	Mary Ellen Swift
Residence	Vienna, Virginia
Alma mater	United States Naval Academy (BS) Harvard University (MPA)
Profession	Naval officer
Signature
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Navy
Years of service	1973–2012
Rank	Admiral
Commands	United States Fleet Forces Command Cruiser-Destroyer Group Eight/Theodore Roosevelt Strike Group USS Cape St. George (CG-71) USS David R. Ray (DD-971)
Battles/wars	Gulf War
Awards	Defense Distinguished Service Medal Navy Distinguished Service Medal (2) Legion of Merit (5) Bronze Star Medal

John Collins Harvey Jr. (born December 17, 1951)^[1] is a former United States Navy four-star admiral who last served as the 31st Commander, United States Fleet Forces Command from July 24, 2009 to September 14, 2012. He previously served as Director, Navy Staff (N09B) from March 24, 2008 to July 23, 2009. Prior to that, he served as the 54th Chief of Naval Personnel and Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Manpower, Personnel, Training & Education) (N1) from November 2005 to April 2008. He retired from the navy after more than 39 years of service.

Harvey was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland and graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy in 1969. He received his commission from the United States Naval Academy in 1973 and immediately commenced training in the navy's Nuclear Propulsion program. In 1988, he received a master's degree in Public Administration from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

Naval career

Harvey has served at sea on the USS Enterprise (CVN-65), USS Bainbridge (CGN-25), USS McInerney (FFG-8), as Reactor Officer on the USS Nimitz (CVN-68), and as Executive Officer on the USS Long Beach (CGN-9). He commanded USS David R. Ray (DD-971), USS Cape St. George (CG-71) and Cruiser-Destroyer Group Eight/Theodore Roosevelt Strike Group. He has deployed to the North and South Atlantic; the Mediterranean, Baltic and Red Seas; the Western Pacific, Indian Ocean, and the Persian Gulf. Harvey's shore assignments includes two tours at the Bureau of Naval Personnel, as the Senior Military Assistant to the Under Secretary of Defense (Policy), as Director, Total Force Programming and Manpower Management Division (OPNAV N12), and as Deputy for Warfare Integration (OPNAV N7F).

On November 22, 2005, Harvey was promoted to vice admiral and assumed duties as the navy's 54th Chief of Naval Personnel and Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Manpower, Personnel, Training & Education).

On January 24, 2008, Harvey was nominated by President George W. Bush for reappointment to the grade of vice admiral and assignment as Director, Navy Staff (N09B).^[2] He was confirmed by the United States Senate on March 13, 2008.^[3] With the removal of previous Director, Navy Staff, Vice Admiral John Stufflebeem, Harvey assumed those duties on March 24, 2008.^[4]

On April 15, 2009, Harvey was nominated by President Barack Obama for appointment to the grade of admiral and assignment as Commander, United States Fleet Forces Command .^[5] He was confirmed by the Senate on May 4, 2009,^[3] and assumed the assignment on July 24, 2009.^[6]

On December 16, 2011, the United States Navy's Old Salt designation was passed to Harvey, making him the longest-serving Surface Warfare Officer currently on active duty within the United States Navy.^[7]

Use of social media

Harvey is active in the naval blogosphere, often posting at the United States Naval Institute's blog. As Commander, United States Fleet Forces Command, he maintained his own blog.^[8]

Post-military career

Harvey was appointed as the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security in the cabinet of Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe.^[9] In accordance with legislation signed by Governor McAuliffe in March 2014, his post was renamed as the Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs.^[10] In October of 2017 Harvey became the Director of Strategy, Forces and Resources Division (SFRD) at the Institute for Defense Analyses in Alexandria VA.

Awards and decorations

	Surface Warfare Officer
	Office of the Secretary of Defense Identification Badge

	Defense Distinguished Service Medal
	Navy Distinguished Service Medal with one gold award star
	Legion of Merit with four gold award stars
	Bronze Star Medal
	Meritorious Service Medal with four gold award stars
	Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal
	Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal
	Navy "E" Ribbon with three Battle E devices
	Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon with one bronze service stars
	Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation Ribbon
	National Defense Service Medal with two service stars
	Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
	Southwest Asia Service Medal
	Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
	Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)
	Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)