James F. Caldwell, Jr.

Vice Admiral James F. Caldwell, Jr. is a United States Navy officer. He is the Naval Inspector General.

Caldwell received his commission graduating with distinction from the United States Naval Academy in 1981 with a Bachelor of Science in Marine Engineering. He holds a Master of Science in operations research from the Naval Postgraduate School.

Caldwell’s early sea tours include serving in both the Atlantic and Pacific Fleets. His operational assignments include duty as a division officer on USS Boston (SSN 703), engineering officer on USS Alabama (SSBN 731) (GOLD), and executive officer on USS Buffalo (SSN 715).

Caldwell commanded USS Jacksonville (SSN 699) home ported in Norfolk, Virginia; Submarine Development Squadron 12 in New London, Connecticut; and Submarine Group 9 in Bangor, Washington. Most recently, he commanded the Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet.

Ashore, Caldwell served on the Pacific Fleet Nuclear Propulsion Examining Board, and later as Undersea Warfare Requirements officer on the staff of Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet. He also served as Senior Member of the Naval Submarine Force’s Tactical Readiness Evaluation Team, on the Joint Staff as deputy director for Politico-Military Affairs for Europe, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Russia and Africa, and deputy commander for U.S. Strategic Command's Joint Functional Component Command for Global Strike in Omaha, Nebraska.

Caldwell assumed his duties as the 39th Naval Inspector General on September 5, 2013.

Caldwell's awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and the Naval Submarine League's Charles A. Lockwood Award.

Personal life
His father, James Franklin Caldwell, Sr. (1935–1998), was a captain in the U.S. Navy.