Michael M. Gilday

Michael Martin Gilday (born October 10, 1962) is a retired United States Navy officer who last served as the 32nd chief of naval operations from August 22, 2019 to August 14, 2023. Gilday commanded two destroyers, served as Director of the Joint Staff, commanded the Tenth Fleet/Fleet Cyber Command, and led Carrier Strike Group 8.

Early life and education

Gilday was born in Lowell, Massachusetts, and is a 1985 graduate of the United States Naval Academy as a surface warfare officer. He has also graduated with masters degrees from the Harvard Kennedy School and the National War College of National Defense University. His wife's name is Linda and she is an engineer and program manager.

Career Gilday, right, speaks with the Nigerian Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Awwal Gambo, at the 24th International Seapower Symposium, September 16, 2021. Gilday's previous tours include duty with , , executive officer of as well as commanding the and and Destroyer Squadron 7. He also had staff assignments on the Bureau of Naval Personnel, Chief of Naval Operation (Strategic Plans and Policy Directorate) and staff to the vice chief of naval operations. His joint assignments include Naval Aide to the President and executive assistant to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Gilday was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal with Valor for his actions aboard Princeton when the ship was damaged by an Iraqi mine during the Persian Gulf War.

As a flag officer, Gilday served as Director of Operations for NATO's Joint Force Command in Lisbon and Director of Operations for United States Cyber Command. was appointed Director of Operations for the Joint Chiefs of Staff in May 2018, and became Director of the Joint Staff from March 1, 2019.

On July 11, 2019, Gilday was nominated for appointment as the next chief of naval operations (CNO). On August 1, the United States Senate voted unanimously to award Gilday a fourth star following the Senate Armed Services Committee's recommendation that he succeed Admiral John M. Richardson as CNO in September 2019. Gilday and the acting United States Secretary of the Navy, James E. McPherson, recommended that Crozier be reinstated as captain of the Roosevelt on April 25, 2020.

On August 10, 2020, Gilday was running on the Washington Navy Yard base, where he lives, when he "fell ill". Gilday was assisted by a passing Marine, and was taken to his physician. He underwent heart surgery for a pre-existing condition about two weeks later. He returned to work full-time on September 28.

His term as chief of naval operations ended on August 14, 2023.

Fat Leonard involvement On March 10, 2007, Captain Gilday attended a banquet with 17 other naval officers hosted by Malaysian husbanding contractor Leonard Francis. Gilday and the other officers paid $50 for the dinner. A subsequent investigation determined that Francis had spent $20,962 on the dinner, and that the officers had therefore violated ethics rules barring them from receiving gifts of more than $20. Investigators from NCIS and DCIS questioned Gilday on June 1, 2015.