Feliks Gromov

Admiral of the Fleet Feliks Nikolayevich Gromov (29 August 1937 – 22 January 2021) was a Russian naval officer who served as Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy from 1992 to 1997. Gromov was the first head of the Russian Navy after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, when it faced severe budget cuts. He spent much of his career as a destroyer and cruiser officer. His previous commands included the Northern Fleet from 1988 to 1992, a squadron, and two cruisers.

Biography Gromov was born in Vladivostok on 29 August 1937. He attended the S.O. Makarov Pacific Higher Naval School, located in his home town, which he graduated from in 1959 and commissioned as a Soviet Navy officer.

Gromov began his service in the Pacific Fleet before getting reassigned to the Strategic Missile Forces in 1960. But he preferred the Navy, and was able to return to naval service in May 1961. He then served as an officer on destroyers and cruisers in the Pacific Fleet. Gromov became the senior assistant to the commander of the in 1970, then the commander of the Sverdlov-class in 1972, and commander of Admiral Senyavin in 1975. Gromov completed academic courses of the Grechko Naval Academy in 1977 before being assigned as chief of staff of the 4th Training Ship Division at the Leningrad naval base.

In the spring of 1992 he was transferred to Moscow and was later promoted to admiral. Gromov was first designated the deputy commander of the Commonwealth of Independent States navy in January 1992. However, in March 1992, when it became clear the CIS military structure was not going to last, he was given the same role in the Russian Navy.

He retired on 7 November 1997 and was succeeded by Admiral Vladimir Kuroyedov. In his retirement, he was a member of the "Admirals' Club" civic organization. From 2008 Gromov was the main inspector-general at the Office of Inspectors General of the Ministry of Defense. He died at his dacha near Moscow on 22 January 2021 and was buried at the Federal Military Memorial Cemetery.

Awards and decorations Russian and Soviet: Order of Merit for the Fatherland Order of Military Merit Order of the October Revolution Order for Service to the Homeland in the Armed Forces of the USSR, 1st & 2nd class