Paul G. Gaffney II

Vice Admiral Paul G. Gaffney II, USN (Ret.), is the seventh president of Monmouth University in West Long Branch, New Jersey.

Gaffney graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1968. Upon graduation, he was selected for immediate graduate education and received a master's degree in Ocean Engineering from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. He completed a year as a student and advanced research fellow at the Naval War College, graduating with highest distinction. He completed an M.B.A. at Jacksonville University. The University of South Carolina, Jacksonville University, and The Catholic University of America have awarded him honorary doctorates.

He was president of the National Defense University from 2000 to 2003. Prior to assuming those duties, Admiral Gaffney was the Chief of Naval Research with responsibility for science and technology investment. In July, 2001 he was appointed by President George W. Bush to the United States Commission on Ocean Policy, and served through the full term of the Commission until 2004.

Gaffney's naval career spanned over three decades including duty at sea, overseas, and ashore in executive and command positions. He served in Japan, Vietnam, Spain, and Indonesia. While a military officer, his career focused on oceanography, research administration, and education.

He is the eponym of Gaffney Ridge, an undersea ridge in the South China Sea, about 220 miles west of the Philippines (located at Latitude 13° 23' 00" N and Longitude 118° 32' 00" E). [Towt, Irene Farrell. [http://www.monmouth.edu/about_monmouth/monmouth_magazine/MUSummer2003.pdf "Sails Set to the Sky"] , "Monmouth University Magazine", Summer 2003. Accessed March 8, 2008.]

Gaffney is the recipient of a number of military decorations, the Naval War College's J. William Middendorf Prize for Strategic Research, the Outstanding Public Service Award from the Virginia Research and Technology Consortium, and the Potomac Institutes's Navigator Award. [ [http://www.potomacinstitute.org/events/navawards/2001.htm 2001 Navigator Award Winners] , Potomac Institute for Policy Studies. Accessed March 8, 2008.] He has served on several boards of higher education and is a member of the Ocean Studies Board of the United States National Research Council. He is a Public Trustee for the New Jersey Consortium and a member of the Governor's Commission to Protect and Enhance New Jersey's Military Bases. He currently serves on the Meridian Health Board of Trustees.

References

ources

* [http://www.ndu.edu/inss/symposia/jointops00/gaffney.html National Defense University]
* [http://www.potomacinstitute.org/events/navawards/2001.htm Potomac Institute Navigator Awards]
* [http://www.ndu.edu/icaf/association/TTSept00.pdf J. William Middendorf. Prize for Strategic Research]
* [http://gnswww.nga.mil/geonames/Gazetteer/Search/Results.jsp?Feature__Unique_Feature_ID=225665&Diacritics=Yes&reload=1 US Board on Geographic Names]

External links

* [http://www.monmouth.edu/about_monmouth/bio.asp Monmouth University Biography]
* [http://www.state.nj.us/cgi-bin/governor/njnewsline/view_article_archives.pl?id=1893 Executive Order creating Governor’s Commission to Support and Enhance New Jersey’s Military and Coast Guard Installations.]
* [http://www.oceancommission.gov/commission/commissionbios.html#gaffney Commissioners' Biographies at United States Commission on Ocean Policy ]
* [http://www.usip.org/newsmedia/releases/pre2002/nb20010213.html US Institute of Peace]