David E. Jeremiah

David Elmer Jeremiah (February 25, 1934 – October 7, 2013) was a United States Navy admiral who served as the second vice chairman and also the acting chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. After his retirement from the Navy in February 1994, he worked in the field of investment banking. He served as partner and President, CEO and later Chairman of Technology Strategies & Alliances Corporation, a strategic advisory and investment banking firm engaged primarily in the aerospace, defense, telecommunications, and electronics industries.

Early life and education Jeremiah was born in Portland, Oregon, on February 25, 1934. He earned a bachelor's degree in Business administration from the University of Oregon and a master's degree in Financial Management from George Washington University. He completed the Program for Management Development at Harvard Business School. After being promoted to Captain, he commanded Destroyer Squadron 24 from 1979-1980. As a Rear Admiral he commanded Cruiser-Destroyer Group Eight from August 1984-April 1986. In October 1985 he directed the attempt to capture the hijackers of the and in April 1986 led combat operations against Libya in the Gulf of Sidra. Ashore, Jeremiah served as Director, Navy Program Planning and in financial planning positions on the staffs of the Secretary of Defense and Chief of Naval Operations. In 1987 he was promoted to Admiral and selected as Commander in Chief of the US Pacific Fleet.

In March 1990, he was named the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of staff under Chairman General Colin Powell.

Dates of rank

March 30, 1956Lieutenant (junior grade) September 30, 1957Lieutenant

May 1, 1965Commander September 1, 1969Captain

October 1, 1983Rear Admiral April 1, 1985Vice Admiral

October 1, 1987

Awards and decorations

Organizational affiliations Jeremiah was Chairman of the Board of Directors of Wackenhut Services, Inc. and served on the Boards of Directors for Geobiotics, LLC, Todd Shipyards Corporation, ManTech International Corporation and the Board of Trustees for MITRE Corporation and In-Q-Tel and advisory boards for Northrop Grumman Corporation and the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs.

In addition to his corporate responsibilities, Jeremiah served as a member of the President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board, the George Bush Presidential Library Advisory Council and a National Reconnaissance Office Advisory Panel.

Death Jeremiah died on October 7, 2013, at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, aged 79. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.