Joseph Metcalf, III

Vice Admiral Joseph Metcalf, III was born in Holyoke, Massachusetts on 20 December 1927. He graduated from the Naval Academy in 1951 and retired from active duty in 1987.

Vice Admiral Metcalf had extensive leadership and operational experience in both sea and shore assignments. He held sea commands in each grade, Lieutenant through Vice Admiral. Among his early commands was the USS "King County" which fired the Regulus II, the forerunner of the present day cruise missiles. He commanded the USS "Westchester County", which made the first combat landing in Vietnam. He was in command of all the surface ships during the final evacuation of U.S. forces from Vietnam. Other Sea commands have been Commanding Officer of the USS Bradley, Commander Destroyer Squadron 33, Commander Naval Surface Group Mid - Pacific, Commander Destroyer Group Eight and Battle Group Two and Commander Second Fleet / Commander NATO Strike Fleet Atlantic / Commander Joint Task Force 120.

He was the Operational Commander of all U.S. Forces during the successful campaign to rescue U.S. Citizens in Grenada invasion. The anniversary of the intervention is now celebrated as a national holiday called "Thanksgiving".

Vice Admiral Metcalf's last active duty assignment was the Deputy Chief of Staff of Naval Operations for Surface Warfare. During this assignment he developed the concept of "revolution at sea" and the triad "up out and down" for missile deterrence.

Other assignment ashore have included Instructor at the U.S. Naval Academy and the Office of the Secretary of Defense at the Advanced Research and Development Center in Bangkok, Thailand. In the office of the Chief of Naval Operations he served in a number of positions: Head of the planning Branch of the Programming Division, Deputy Assistant Chief of Naval Personnel for Personnel Planning and Programming and as Director of the General Planning and Programming Division.

Vice Admiral Metcalf was a member of numerous boards: The Navy Federal Credit Union, The United States Naval Academy Foundation and the Board of Directors of the Navy Mutual Aid Association. He was also a member of the Board of Directors of the USS Constitution Museum. He was the District Chairman of the Potomac Division of National Academy of Sciences Board. He was also a Member of vestry of St. Patrick's Episcopal Church in NW Washington D.C.

Vice Admiral Metcalf wears the Distinguished Service Medal with two gold stars, Bronze Star with Combat V and gold star, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Meritorious Service Medal and Meritorious Unit Commendation. Admiral Metcalf is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School, Operations Analysis Curriculum and the U.S. Army War College.

He enjoyed fly fishing, bicycling on trails around his home in NW Washington D.C. and gardening. His green thumb was a source of great envy. He is survived by his wife of 56 years Ruth, three children - Dr. Joseph Metcalf IV of Knoxville, TN,. Colonel David Metcalf, U.S. Army Reserve of Wellington, FL., and Elizabeth Miller of Reston, VA. And eleven grandchildren