Philip S. Davidson
Born (1960-08-24) August 24, 1960 (age 63)
Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
AllegianceUnited States
Service/branchUnited States Navy
Years of service1982–2021
RankAdmiral
Commands heldUnited States Indo-Pacific Command
United States Fleet Forces Command
United States Sixth Fleet
Carrier Strike Group 8
USS Gettysburg
USS Taylor
Battles/warsGulf War
AwardsDefense Distinguished Service Medal
Navy Distinguished Service Medal (2)
Defense Superior Service Medal (2)
Legion of Merit (6)
Spouse(s)Tracy Davidson[1]
RelationsLara Davidson (daughter)

Philip Scot Davidson (born August 24, 1960) is a retired four-star admiral in the United States Navy who last served as the 25th commander of United States Indo-Pacific Command from May 30, 2018 to April 30, 2021. He previously served as the commander of United States Fleet Forces Command and United States Naval Forces Northern Command from 2014 to 2018. Davidson is from St. Louis, Missouri, and is a 1982 graduate of the United States Naval Academy. He retired from the U.S. Navy effective May 1, 2021.

On April 24, 2018, the Senate Armed Services Committee confirmed Davidson to succeed Admiral Harry B. Harris Jr. as the commander of United States Pacific Command. The change of command ceremony happened on May 30, 2018.[2] On that same day, United States Pacific Command was renamed to United States Indo-Pacific Command.[3] When Admiral Kurt W. Tidd retired, Davidson received the title of "Old Salt", conferred upon the longest-serving surface warfare officer in the U.S. Navy.[4] Davidson relinquished the title to Admiral Christopher W. Grady upon his retirement.[5]

Naval career

Admiral Davidson is piped aboard during the INDOPACOM change of command ceremony. He would retire from active duty the following day, 1 May 2021.

A surface warfare officer, Davidson has deployed across the globe in frigates, destroyers, cruisers, and aircraft carriers. Davidson's previous command assignments include Carrier Strike Group 8 (Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group), USS Gettysburg, and USS Taylor. He also served as the commander of United States Sixth Fleet and the commander of Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO, while simultaneously serving as the deputy commander of United States Naval Forces Europe – Naval Forces Africa.

Ashore, Davidson has served in fleet, interagency, and joint tours as a flag officer; he was previously the director of maritime operations at United States Fleet Forces Command, the senior military advisor to the special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan (SRAP) at the State Department, and the deputy director for strategy and policy in the J-5 directorate of the Joint Staff. He served earlier in his career in policy, strategy, and operations billets on multiple tours with the U.S. Pacific Fleet staff, the Navy staff, and the Joint Staff, and as the Navy’s military aide to the Vice President of the United States.

Davidson is a distinguished graduate of the United States Naval War College. He has a Master of Arts in national security and strategic studies and a Bachelor of Science in physics.

Role in the USS Roosevelt coronavirus outbreak

On March 5, 2020, Davidson ordered the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt to conduct its long-scheduled visit to Da Nang, Vietnam. The port call was politically important, to show United States military strength in a region increasingly unnerved by Beijing's growing territorial claims in the South China Sea.[6] However, nearly three weeks prior, on February 14, the United States Navy had ordered all ships in the Indo-Pacific region that had made port calls to quarantine at sea for at least 14 days, the maximum incubation period for the novel coronavirus. The navy also directed the Seventh Fleet headquarters in Yokosuka, Japan to screen everyone accessing the fleet's warships and aircraft. Davidson chose to accept the risk of possible coronavirus infections, and allow the visit to proceed.[7]

Within days of completing the port call, sailors aboard the Roosevelt began testing positive for the coronavirus. By April 13, nearly 600 sailors had tested positive, with one death, 4,000 sailors had been evacuated from the ship, and the ship's commander, Captain Brett Crozier, had been relieved of command.[8]

Awards and decorations

Gold star
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Silver star
Gold star
Silver block letter O
Bronze star
Bronze star
Surface Warfare Officer Pin
Defense Distinguished Service Medal Navy Distinguished Service Medal with one gold award star
Defense Superior Service Medal w/ 1 bronze oak leaf cluster Legion of Merit w/ 1 silver award star Meritorious Service Medal w/ 1 award star
Joint Service Commendation Medal Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal w/ 2 award stars and Combat V Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal
Combat Action Ribbon Joint Meritorious Unit Award Navy Unit Commendation
Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation with "O" Device Navy E Ribbon w/ 3 Battle E devices
Superior Honor Award Certificate National Defense Service Medal w/ 1 bronze service star Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal w/ 1 service star
Southwest Asia Service Medal w/ 2 service stars Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon w/ 6 service stars Coast Guard Special Operations Service Ribbon Order of the Rising Sun, 1st grade (Japan)[9]
Order of National Security Merit, Tongil Medal (Republic of Korea)[10] Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia) Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)
Command at Sea insignia
United States Indo-Pacific Command Badge
Vice Presidential Service Badge

References

  1. ^ "Nomination Hearing of Adm. Philip S. Davidson". Retrieved May 1, 2021.
  2. ^ Eckstein, Megan. "SASC Confirms Davidson Nomination as Next PACOM Commander". U.S. Naval Institute. USNI News. Retrieved May 19, 2018.
  3. ^ "U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Holds Change of Command Ceremony". U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. Public Affairs Communication & Outreach. May 30, 2018. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
  4. ^ "Surface Navy Association's "Old Salt" Award Passed to Adm. Davidson". Archived from the original on October 23, 2018. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
  5. ^ Macchietto, Brooke (May 1, 2021). "FLEET FORCES COMMANDER BECOMES NAVY'S 'OLD SALT'". U.S. Fleet Forces Command. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
  6. ^ Gibbons-Neff, Thomas; Schmitt, Eric; Cooper, Helene; Ismay, John (April 12, 2020). "'There Will be Losses': How a Captain's Plea Exposed a Rift in the Military". The New York Times.
  7. ^ "US aircraft carrier should never have been sent to Vietnam". April 4, 2020.
  8. ^ "Sailor aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt dies of coronavirus".
  9. ^ "Japan defense chief and top U.S. Commander in Pacific vow to deepen security ties". April 12, 2021.
  10. ^ "(LEAD) Outgoing U.S. Indo-Pacific commander awarded top medal from S. Korea". April 13, 2021.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Philip S. Davidson.
Military offices Preceded byKurt W. Tidd Commander of Carrier Strike Group 8 20??–2011 Succeeded byMichael C. Manazir Preceded byFrank Craig Pandolfe Commander of the United States Sixth Fleet 2013–2014 Succeeded byJames G. Foggo III Preceded byWilliam E. Gortney Commander of the United States Fleet Forces Command 2014–2018 Succeeded byChristopher W. Grady Preceded byHarry B. Harris Jr.as Commander of the United States Pacific Command Commander of the United States Indo-Pacific Command 2018–2021 Succeeded byJohn C. Aquilino
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