Old Goat
{{Short description|United States Navy designation}}
{{For|the mountain|Goat Range (Alberta)}}
File:Old Goat Award Presentation (2017).jpg
In United States Naval Academy terminology, the Old Goat is the longest-serving Naval Academy graduate on active duty.
{{cite news|author1=Matthew Hay Brown|title=New superintendent says Naval Academy will meet evolving challenges|url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/anne-arundel/annapolis/bs-md-naval-academy-change-of-command-20140723-story.html|access-date=31 March 2018|agency=The Baltimore Sun|date=23 July 2014}}
{{cite web|title="Old Goat" Decanter Passed on to Oldest Active Duty USNA Graduate|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNl4mBn8hiM|website=YouTube|publisher=USNA Alumni Association & Foundation|access-date=31 March 2018}}
Since 2014, the designation has been accompanied by an award created by a previous Old Goat, Rear Admiral Alton L. Stocks. The award - a crystal decanter engraved with the initials and class years of previous holders - is passed to a new Old Goat upon the current holder's retirement.
{{cite news|author1=CAPT Dora Lockwood|title=Navy Medicine Flag Officer Retires After 41 Years of Service|url=http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=80013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170603043049/http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=80013|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 3, 2017|access-date=31 March 2018|agency=U.S. Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery|date=31 March 2014}}
{{cite news|author1=MC2 Nathan Wilkes|title=Adm. Ferguson Receives 'Old Goat' Award|url=http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=91352|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151003165432/http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=91352|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 3, 2015|access-date=31 March 2018|agency=U.S. Naval Academy|date=2 October 2015}} There have been nine Old Goats so awarded, each after more than 35 years' service to the U.S. Navy.
Award Recipients
| class="wikitable"
!Photo !Recipient !Class !Awarded title !Relinquished title !Last position !Ref. |
| File:Alton_L._Stocks.jpg
|style="text-align:center"| {{small|Rear Admiral}} |style="text-align:center"| 1972 |style="text-align:center"| Unknown |style="text-align:center"| 8 March 2014 |style="text-align:center"| Deputy Chief, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery |
| File:Michael_H._Miller_official_photo.jpg
|style="text-align:center"| {{small|Vice Admiral}} |style="text-align:center"| 1974 |style="text-align:center"| 8 March 2014 |style="text-align:center"| 1 August 2015 |style="text-align:center"| Superintendent, United States Naval Academy |
| File:Admiral_Jonathan_W._Greenert_(CNO).jpg
|style="text-align:center"| {{small|Admiral}} |style="text-align:center"| 1975 |style="text-align:center"| 1 August 2015 |style="text-align:center"| 18 September 2015 |style="text-align:center"| Chief of Naval Operations |
| File:ADM_Ferguson_2016.jpg
|style="text-align:center"| {{small|Admiral}} |style="text-align:center"| 1978 |style="text-align:center"| 18 September 2015 |style="text-align:center"| 1 July 2016 |style="text-align:center"| Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe & |
| File:Admiral_Cecil_D._Haney_STRATCOM.jpg
|style="text-align:center"| {{small|Admiral}} |style="text-align:center"| 1978 |style="text-align:center"| 1 July 2016 |style="text-align:center"| 17 January 2017 |style="text-align:center"| Commander, U.S. Strategic Command |
| File:Harris_Jr_PACOM_2015.jpg
|style="text-align:center"| {{small|Admiral}} |style="text-align:center"| 1978 |style="text-align:center"| 17 January 2017 |style="text-align:center"| 11 April 2018 |style="text-align:center"| Commander, U.S. Pacific Command | |
| File:Adm. Kurt W. Tidd 2016.jpg
|style="text-align:center"| {{small|Admiral}} |style="text-align:center"| 1978 |style="text-align:center"| 11 April 2018 |style="text-align:center"| 8 October 2018 |style="text-align:center"| Commander, U.S. Southern Command |
| File:Adm. William K. Lescher.jpg
|style="text-align:center"| {{small|Admiral}} |style="text-align:center"| 1980 |style="text-align:center"| 8 October 2018 |style="text-align:center"| 30 August 2022 |style="text-align:center"| Vice Chief of Naval Operations |
| File:ADM James Caldwell 2015.jpg
|style="text-align:center"| {{small|Admiral}} |style="text-align:center"| 1981 |style="text-align:center"| 30 August 2022 |style="text-align:center"| 10 January 2024 |style="text-align:center"| Director, Naval Reactors |
| File:ADM John C. Aquilino (USINDOPACOM).jpg
|style="text-align:center"| {{small|Admiral}} |style="text-align:center"| 1984 |style="text-align:center"| 9 January 2024 |style="text-align:center"| 26 June 2024 |style="text-align:center"| Commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command |
| File:Munsch Official Portrait, 2022.jpg
|style="text-align:center"| {{small|Admiral}} |style="text-align:center"| 1985 |style="text-align:center"| 26 June 2024 |style="text-align:center"| Incumbent |style="text-align:center"| Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa |style="text-align:center"| {{cite web|last=Hardgrove|first=Samuel|url=https://www.c6f.navy.mil/Press-Room/News/News-Display/Article/3820698/naveur-navaf-commander-becomes-us-navys-old-goat/|title=NAVEUR-NAVAF Commander becomes U.S. Navy's Old Goat|date=2024-06-28|access-date=2024-07-07|publisher=U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa Public Affairs|location=Washington, D. C.|website=U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa}} |
The current Old Goat is Admiral Stuart B. Munsch (USNA '85), who has served as Commander, United States Naval Forces Europe and Africa since 2022. He received the title and accompanying award from Admiral John C. Aquilino, the outgoing commander of United States Indo-Pacific Command on 26 June 2024.
Class of 1978
The Naval Academy's Class of 1978 was just the fourth USNA class to produce four full (four-star) admirals; each was recognized as the Old Goat.{{cite news|title=Naval Academy Class of '78 Shines with Four 4-Stars|url=https://www.usna.edu/NewsCenter/2016/01/naval-academy-class-of-78-shines-with-four-4-stars.php|access-date=31 March 2018|agency=U.S. Naval Academy|date=19 January 2016}}{{cite web|title='78 Flag and General Officers|url=http://www.usna1978.org/classmates/flag_officers|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160607110453/http://www.usna1978.org/classmates/flag_officers|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 7, 2016|website=U.S. Naval Academy Class of 1978}}