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Edmund P. Giambastiani, Jr.
Admiral Edmund Giambastiani, photo portrait upper body
Giambastiani in February 2007
Born May 4, 1948(1948-05-04) (age 76)
Place of birth Canastota, New York, U.S.
Allegiance United States
Service/branch United States Navy
Years of service 1970-2007
Rank US-O10 insignia Admiral
Commands held Atlantic Fleet Submarine Force
Submarines Allied Command Atlantic
Anti-Submarine and Reconnaissance Forces Atlantic
Allied Command Transformation, NATO
U.S. Joint Forces Command
Vice Chairman of the JCS
Awards Defense Distinguished Service ribbon Defense Distinguished Service Medal (2)
Navy Distinguished Service ribbon Navy Distinguished Service Medal (5)
Legion of Merit ribbon Legion of Merit (4)

Edmund P. Giambastiani, Jr. (born May 4, 1948) is a retired United States Navy admiral who served as the seventh Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 2005 to 2007. He retired in 2007, after 37 years of service.[1]

Early life and education[]

Giambastiani was born on May 4, 1948, in Canastota, New York. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy with leadership distinction in 1970. He has been awarded numerous decorations.[citation needed]

Career[]

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 (SSN-652) and the USS Francis Scott Key (SSBN-657)'s blue crew. 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, Virginia.

Giambastiani's other shore and staff assignments include duties as an enlisted program manager at the Navy Recruiting Command Headquarters, Washington, D.C., 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. His previous assignment was as NATO’s first Supreme Allied Commander Transformation (SACT) and as Combatant Commander of United States Joint Forces Command, where he led the transformation of NATO and U.S. military forces, capabilities and doctrines and the introduction of new technologies, from October 2, 2002 to August 1, 2005.[2]

In 2003, in his capacity as "chief of Joint Forces Command", Giambastiani published a "lessons learned" report.[3] While generally praising U.S. performance it highlighted numerous incidents of friendly fire.

Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff[]

Edmund P

Giambastiani in May 2007, greeting German Lieutenant General Roland Kather, commander of Kosovo Forces, at the KFOR headquarters in Film City, Kosovo, as American Brigadier General Albert Bryant, Jr., KFOR chief of staff, looks on.

On August 12, 2005, Admiral Giambastiani was sworn in as the seventh Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, becoming 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 R. 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 May 4–6, 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.

On June 1, 2007, Giambastiani announced his retirement from the military to spend more time with his family and pursue other ventures.[4] He retired on July 27, 2007.[5]

Personal life[]

Giambastiani's personal interests include amateur radio, for which he uses the call sign N4OC. He also 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 October 8, 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."[6]

Awards and decorations[]

Medals and ribbons[]

GiambastianiMedals2007

Giambastiani's medals as of July 27, 2007.

His decorations include numerous personal and unit decorations, medals and ribbons including:

Bronze oak leaf cluster
Defense Distinguished Service ribbon
Defense Distinguished Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster
Gold star
Gold star
Gold star
Gold star
Navy Distinguished Service ribbon
Navy Distinguished Service Medal with four golden award stars
Gold star
Gold star
Gold star
Legion of Merit ribbon
Legion of Merit with three award stars
Gold star
Gold star
Meritorious Service ribbon
Meritorious Service Medal with two award stars
Gold star
Navy and Marine Corps Commendation ribbon
Navy Commendation Medal with award star
Joint Meritorious Unit Award ribbon Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Navy Unit Commendation ribbon
Navy Unit Commendation with four bronze service stars
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation ribbon
Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation with four service stars
USN - Battle E Ribbon 4 Navy "E" Ribbon w/ Wreathed Battle E device (8 awards)
Bronze star
Navy Expeditionary ribbon
Navy Expeditionary Medal with service star
Bronze star
Bronze star
National Defense Service Medal ribbon
National Defense Service Medal with 2 service stars
Bronze star
Vietnam Service Ribbon
Vietnam Service Medal with bronze campaign star (1 award)
Global War on Terrorism Service ribbon Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Sea Service Deployment Ribbon
Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with 3 bronze stars
Navy Recruiting Service Ribbon Navy Recruiting Service Ribbon

See also[]

References[]

  1. United States Navy (2007-04-15). "Admiral Edmund P. Giambastiani, Jr.: Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff". United States Navy. http://www.navy.mil/navydata/bios/bio.asp?bioID=120. Retrieved 2011-10-15. mirror
  2. "Admiral Edmund P. Giambastiani, Jr., U.S. Joint Forces Command/North Atlantic Treaty Organization". United States Joint Forces Command. http://www.jfcom.mil/about/giambastiani.htm. Retrieved 2004-06-18. 
  3. "hU.S. war review: Unprecedented coordination, but costly failures". USA Today. 2003-10-02. http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2003-10-02-war-review_x.htm. Retrieved 2011-10-15. "Too little was done to minimize incidents of "friendly fire," or inadvertent attacks by U.S. forces on U.S. or coalition troops, according to Adm. Edmund P. Giambastiani Jr., chief of Joint Forces Command, which compiled the war review, known as a "lessons learned" report."  mirror
  4. Shanker, Thom (June 2, 2007). "Vice Chairman of Joint Chiefs Says He’ll Retire in August". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/02/washington/02admiral.html?_r=1&ref=washington&oref=slogin. Retrieved 2007-06-02. 
  5. Miles, Donna. Vice Chairman Honored for Contributions, Service. American Forces Press Service. July 27, 2007.
  6. "Boeing adds former top admiral to board of directors". The Seattle Times. October 8, 2009. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2010026239_webboeingboard08.html. 
  7. "NATO’s first Transformation Commander bids farewell". NATO. August 1, 2005. http://www.nato.int/docu/update/2005/08-august/e0801a.htm. 
  8. "Magyar Köztársasági Érdemrend középkeresztje". Embassy of Hungary. October 8, 2005. http://www.huembwas.org/News2/Gyurcsany.htm. Retrieved 2008-02-25. 
  9. "Kotkaristi I klassi orden". Estonia Government. February 2006. http://www.president.ee/et/vabariik/teenetem2rgid.php?gid=89301. Retrieved 2008-02-25. 
  10. Governor General of Canada, January 24, 2006

External links[]

Military offices
Preceded by
Peter Pace
Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
2005 - 2007
Succeeded by
James E. Cartwright
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