United States Naval Academy The United States Naval Academy (US Naval Academy, USNA, or Navy) is a federal service academy in Annapolis, Maryland. It was established on 10 October 1845 during the tenure of George Bancroft as Secretary of the Navy. The Naval Academy ...

terminology, the Old Goat is the longest-serving Naval Academy graduate on active duty. Since 2014, the designation has been accompanied by an award created by a previous Old Goat, Rear Admiral Alton L. Stocks. The award - a crystal decanter engraved with the initials and class years of previous holders - is passed to a new Old Goat upon the current holder's retirement. There have been nine Old Goats so awarded, each after more than 35 years' service to the U.S. Navy.

Award Recipients

The current Old Goat is Admiral James F. Caldwell Jr. (USNA '81), who has served as Director,

Naval Reactors Naval Reactors (NR), also known as the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program, is an umbrella term for the U.S. government office that has comprehensive responsibility for the safe and reliable operation of the United States Navy's nuclear propulsion p ...

since 2015 and is also the most senior U.S. Navy four-star admiral on active duty by virtue of rank (14 August 2015). He received the title and accompanying award from Admiral William K. Lescher, the outgoing

vice chief of naval operations The vice chief of naval operations (VCNO) is the second highest-ranking commissioned United States Navy officer in the Department of the Navy and functions as the principal deputy of the chief of naval operations and by statute, the vice chief ...

on 31 August 2022.

Class of 1978

The Naval Academy's Class of 1978 is notable for producing four full (four-star) admirals, a distinction shared by only four prior USNA classes since the Academy's founding in 1845. As of 11 April 2018, all four admirals of the Class of 1978 have been recognized as the Old Goat.

References

{{Reflist United States Naval Academy United States Naval Academy alumni