Adm. Fallon Says Final Farewell
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS080418-19
Release Date: 4/18/2008 9:39:00 PM
By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Brandon Shelander, Fleet Public Affairs Center Atlantic
NORFOLK (NNS) -- Adm. William J. Fallon said his final goodbyes to his fellow Sailors and friends during a retirement ceremony aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) at Naval Station Norfolk, April 18.
More than 600 service members and civilians attended the ceremony to celebrate Fallon's 41 years of service.
Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen attended the event and spoke about Fallon's dedication to his country, family and friends.
"Our country is stronger and safer because of Fallon's service," said Gates. "Admiral Fallon has been a valued voice when he has advised me and the president."
Mullen also spoke about Fallon's skill as a leader saying in war and in peace Fallon has innovation and skill as well as grace and grit.
"He is dependable and honest, steadfast and sincere, and I'm going to miss him," said Mullen.
At the end of the ceremony, Fallon expressed his gratitude to the men and women who serve their country.
"I'm retiring, but only from the Navy. I'm excited. I'm very confident about the future," Fallon said. "We have a lot of people who are on the job that work very hard everyday and it's been a great ride. I'm turning a page in my life."
Fallon's final assignment was commander of U.S. Central Command from March 16, 2007 to March 11, 2008 and was the first naval officer to hold the position, which commands all U.S forces in the middle east.
A native of Merchantville, N.J., Fallon graduated from Villanova University in 1967 where he received his commission through the Navy ROTC Program and was designated a naval flight officer upon completion of flight training in Dec. 1967.
Fallon began his naval aviation service flying in the RA-5C Vigilante with a combat deployment to Vietnam. He served in flying assignments with attack squadrons and carrier air wings for 24 years, deploying to the Mediterranean Sea, Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans embarked aboard USS Saratoga (CV 60), USS Ranger (CV61), USS Nimitz (CVN 68), USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) and USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71). He has logged more than 1,300 carrier arrested landings and 4,800 flight hours in tactical jet aircraft.
Fallon commanded Attack Squadron 65 embarked aboard Dwight D. Eisenhower, Medium Attack Wing 1 at Naval Air Station Oceana, Va., and Carrier Air Wing 8 aboard Theodore Roosevelt during a combat deployment to the Persian Gulf for Operation Desert Storm in 1991.
Assigned as Commander, Carrier Group 8 in 1995, he deployed to the Mediterranean as commander, Theodore Roosevelt Battle Group and commanded Battle Force 6th Fleet (CTF 60) during NATO's Combat Operation Deliberate Force in Bosnia. He also served as Commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet and Commander, Striking Fleet Atlantic from Nov. 1997 to Sept. 2000.
Some of Fallon's other assignments include: Aid and Flag Lieutenant to the Commander, Fleet Air Jacksonville, and to the staffs of Commander, Reconnaissance Attack Wing 1; Commander, Operational Test Force, and Commander, Naval Air Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet. He has served as Deputy Director for Operations, Joint Task Force, Southwest Asia in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and as Deputy Director, Aviation Plans and Requirements on the Staff of the Chief of Naval Operations in Washington, D.C.
His first flag officer assignment was with NATO as Assistant Chief of Staff, Plans and Policy for Supreme Allied Commander, Atlantic. He was then assigned as Deputy and Chief of Staff, U.S. Atlantic Fleet followed by assignments as Deputy Commander in Chief and Chief of Staff, U.S. Atlantic Command. Fallon served as the 31st Vice Chief of Naval Operations from Oct. 2000 to Aug. 2003. He was the Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command and U.S. Atlantic Fleet from Oct. 2003 to Feb. 2005. He served as Commander, U.S. Pacific Command from Feb. 2005 until March 2007.
Fallon is a graduate of the Naval War College, Newport, R.I., the National War College in Washington, D.C., and has a Master of Arts degree in international studies from Old Dominion University.
His awards include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, and various unit and campaign decorations.
For more news from Naval Station Norfolk, visit www.navy.mil/local/nsn/.
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