Scott Andrew Stearney (October 21, 1960 – December 1, 2018) was an American naval aviator and vice admiral of the United States Navy who served as commander of the Fifth Fleet based in Bahrain .
Early life and education
Stearney was a native of Chicago , Illinois . He graduated from the University of Notre Dame , earning a Bachelor of Arts in Economics prior to commissioning in the United States Navy in October 1982. He subsequently entered flight training and was designated a Naval Aviator in April 1984. He graduated from Navy Fighter Weapons School and held a Master of Science in National Resource Strategy from the National Defense University .[ 1]
Naval career
Stearney served in numerous strike fighter squadrons flying the FA-18 Hornet . His fleet assignments included the Golden Warriors of Strike Fighter Squadron VFA-87 , the Knighthawks of Strike Fighter Squadron VFA-136 and strike warfare officer for commander, Carrier Group 4 (CCG-4). He commanded the Wildcats of VFA-131 and Carrier Air Wing Seven (CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69). He served in Kabul , Afghanistan, as chief of staff of Joint Task Force 435 (JTF 435) and later Combined Joint Interagency Task Force 435 (CJIATF 435).[ 1]
Ashore, Stearney served as instructor and readiness officer at Navy Fighter Weapons School , aide-de-camp to the Chief of Naval Operations , deputy director J6 United States Joint Forces Command , executive assistant to deputy commander, United States Joint Forces Command and chief of staff, Strike Force Training Atlantic.[ 1]
Stearney's flag assignments included: commander, United States Transportation Command 's Joint Enabling Capabilities Command ; commander, Strike Force Training Atlantic; commander, Carrier Strike Group 4 (CCSG-4); commander, Navy Warfare Development Command ; and director of operations, United States Central Command .[ 1]
Stearney in June 2018 Stearney served as commander, United States Naval Forces Central Command , United States Fifth Fleet , and Combined Maritime Forces from May 2018 until his death on December 1, 2018.[ 1]
Stearney's military decorations included the Defense Superior Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Legion of Merit with three Gold Stars, the Air Medal with strike/flight numeral 3, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with two Gold Stars, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal , as well as other commendations and multiple service medals. He accumulated more than 4,500 mishap-free flight hours and over 1,000 carrier arrested landings .[ 1]
Death
Stearney was found dead in his home in Bahrain on December 1, 2018, in an apparent suicide.[ 2] Paul J. Schlise , the deputy commander, assumed command of the Fifth Fleet in his stead.[ 3] [ 4] Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) and the Ministry of the Interior of Bahrain .[ 4] [ 5] Arlington National Cemetery on December 20, 2018.[ 6]
References
public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Navy .
^ a b c d e f "Vice Admiral Scott A. Stearney" . US Navy . December 1, 2018. Retrieved December 2, 2018 .^ "US Navy's Middle East chief Scott Stearney found dead in Bahrain" . Aljazeera.com Al Jazeera Media Network . December 2, 2018. Retrieved December 4, 2018 .^ "U.S. Navy admiral Scott Stearney found dead in apparent suicide" . CBS News . December 1, 2018. Retrieved December 2, 2018 .^ a b Schmitt, Eric (December 1, 2018). "Navy Admiral Scott Stearney Is Found Dead in Bahrain Home" . The New York Times . Retrieved December 2, 2018 . ^ Harkins, Gina (June 12, 2019). "Navy Vice Admiral, Former Head of 5th Fleet, Died by Suicide in Bahrain" . Military.com . Retrieved June 26, 2019 . ^ "Stearney, Scott Andrew" . ANCExplorer . U.S. Army. Retrieved August 22, 2020 .
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