Samuel J. Locklear

Admiral Samuel J. "Sam" Locklear III, USN (born October 28, 1954) is a United States Navy four-star admiral who currently serves as Commander, U.S. Pacific Command. He previously served as Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe - U.S. Naval Forces Africa and NATO's Commander, Allied Joint Force Command Naples. Prior to that, he served as Director, Navy Staff from July 2009 to October 2010. He assumed his current assignment on 9 March 2012.

Life and career
He is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy in 1977, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in operations analysis. After receiving his commission as an ensign, he served aboard USS William V. Pratt as Main Propulsion Assistant and Missile Fire Control Officer. He was then selected for training and service in the Navy Nuclear Propulsion program, and served as Electrical Principal Assistant in USS Carl Vinson. Graduating with "Top Gun" honors from the Surface Warfare Department Head School, he served as Operations Officer and Engineering Officer in USS Callaghan, and as Executive Officer in USS Truxtun. Subsequently, he commanded USS Leftwich and served as Commander, Destroyer Squadron 2 deploying with the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Battle Group. In October 2002, he assumed command of Cruiser-Destroyer Group 5 and Nimitz Strike Group deploying to the Persian Gulf in 2003 in direct support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

Ashore, Locklear has served as a Company Officer in the Office of the Commandant, United States Naval Academy and later as the 78th Commandant of Midshipmen. In Washington, D.C., he served as Chief of the Regional Engagement and Presence Joint Warfare Capabilities Assessment Branch in the Strategic Plans and Policy Directorate of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, as Executive Assistant to the Vice Chief of Naval Operations, and as Deputy Director for Requirements in the Assessment Division (N81D). In February 2004, he returned to the OPNAV Staff as Deputy Director for Surface Warfare (N76B), and in October 2004, he became the Director of the Assessment Division (N81). In October 2005 he became the Director of the Programming Division (N80). From May 2007 to July 2009, he served as Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet, and from July 2009 as Director, Navy Staff (N09B).

Adm. Locklear is a 1992 graduate of the National Defense Industrial College of the Armed Forces, holds a Master of Public Administration degree from the George Washington University, and attended the Senior Officials in National Security course at the Maxwell School of Syracuse University.

His personal decorations include the Navy Distinguished Service Medal with gold star, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit with four gold stars, Bronze Star, Navy Meritorious Service Medal with three gold stars, Navy Commendation Medal with gold star, Navy Achievement Medal with gold star, and numerous unit and campaign awards.

In March 2011, he commanded US Navy forces enforcing the Libyan no-fly zone, with overall command going to General Carter Ham.

Locklear has called climate change (global warming) the biggest worry for the United States. On 9 April 2013, Jim Inhofe, the ranking member of the Senate Committee on Armed Services asked Locklear to clarify his position of climate change as the principal national security threat. Locklear cited USAID government statistics on recent Indo-Asian natural disasters and the long range planning challenges of our security partners and allies in the region.