Christopher W. Grady

Christopher Watson Grady (born 28 November 1962) is a retired American admiral who served as the 12th vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 2021 to 2025. Grady also served as the acting chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in 2025.

Grady previously served as the commander of United States Fleet Forces Command and United States Naval Forces Northern Command from May 2018 to December 2021, with additional duties as commander of United States Naval Forces Strategic Command and Joint Force Maritime Component Commander from February 2019. Before that he was the commander of the United States Sixth Fleet, commander of Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO, deputy commander of United States Naval Forces Europe - Naval Forces Africa and Joint Force Maritime Component Commander Europe from October 2016 to March 2018.

A 1984 graduate of the University of Notre Dame, Grady was commissioned in the United States Navy via the Naval Reserve Officers' Training Corps program. He became the Navy's "Old Salt", its longest-serving surface warfare officer on active duty, having received the title and accompanying trophy from Admiral Philip S. Davidson on 20 April 2021 and would hold this distinction until his retirement from the Navy on 30 September 2025.

Naval career Rear Adm. Grady, as commander, Carrier Strike Group 1, prepares food on Thanksgiving dinner for sailors aboard the USS Carl Vinson, 27 November 2014

Christopher Grady was born in Portsmouth, Virginia and raised in Newport, Rhode Island. He is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame, and was commissioned an ensign in the United States Navy through the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps program in 1984. Grady is a graduate of Georgetown University, where he earned a Master of Arts in National Security Studies while concurrently participating as a fellow in Foreign Service at the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service. He is also a graduate of the National War College of National Defense University, earning a Master of Science in National Security Affairs.

Grady's initial sea tour was aboard USS Moosbrugger (DD 980), where he served as combat information center officer and anti-submarine warfare officer. As a department head, he served as weapons control officer and combat systems officer in . He was the commanding officer of Mine Counter Measure Rotational Crew Echo in , and deployed to the Persian Gulf in command of . Grady then commanded deploying as part of NATO's Standing Naval Forces Mediterranean. He then commanded Destroyer Squadron 22, deploying to the Persian Gulf as sea combat commander for the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group (TRCSG) in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

Vice Adm. Grady visits the Lindormen-class support vessel EML Wambola (A433) during exercise BALTOPS 2017, 10 June 2017

Ashore, Grady first served on the staff of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and then as naval aide to the chief of naval operations. He also served on the staff of the chief of naval operations as assistant branch head, Europe and Eurasia Politico-Military Affairs Branch (OPNAV N524). He then served as executive assistant to the navy's Chief of Legislative Affairs. Next, he served as the deputy executive secretary of the National Security Council in the White House. He then went on to serve as the executive assistant to the chief of naval operations. to 1 March 2018, relinquishing command to Vice Admiral Lisa Franchetti. On 31 October 2017, the United States Senate confirmed Grady's reappointment to the rank of vice admiral and assignment as the assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

On 28 February 2018, Grady was nominated by President Donald Trump for appointment to the rank of admiral and assignment as commander of United States Fleet Forces Command, and confirmed by the Senate on 22 March 2018. He assumed command of USFFC and Naval Forces Northern Command on 4 May 2018 and of commander, Naval Forces Strategic Command (NAVSTRAT) and United States Strategic Command Joint Force Maritime Component Command (JFMCC) on 1 February 2019.

Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

On 1 November 2021, he was nominated by President Joe Biden to succeed retiring General John E. Hyten as the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. A nomination hearing was scheduled for 2 December 2021, but it was postponed in favor of Senate negotiations on the 2022 NDAA. He was confirmed by voice vote on 16 December 2021,

Acting Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff On 21 February 2025, President Donald Trump dismissed Air Force General C. Q. Brown, Jr. from his position as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In accordance with 10 USC Ch 5, Admiral Grady assumed the role of acting Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Personal life Grady and his wife Christine, married around 1985, have three children and a daughter-in-law.

On 18 May 2025, Grady delivered the commencement speech at the University of Notre Dame, in which he urged students to challenge themselves amidst the growing complexity of the global climate. He also received a Doctor of Laws honoris causa degree (LL.D.) from the institution, presented by university president Father Dowd.

Awards and decorations

In addition to the below, the University of Notre Dame Alumni Board presented Grady with the Rev. William Corby, C.S.C., Award on 28 September 2019. Established in 1985, the award is conferred on alumni who have distinguished themselves in military service.