Richard C. Macke

Macke graduated from the United States Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1960. After graduation, he reported to flight training at NAS Pensacola, Florida. After training at several other air stations, he was designated a Naval Aviator in August 1961. He then reported to Attack Squadron 23 (VA-23) at NAS Lemoore, California and flew A-4 Skyhawks from the aircraft carrier {{USS|Midway|CV-41|6}}.

In 1965, Macke was selected for Test Pilot Training and entered the United States Navy Test Pilot School at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland. Following graduation, he served in the Weapons System Test Directorate of the Naval Air Test Center, participating in the initial trials of the A-7A Corsair II aircraft. He next went to VA-27, flying A-7s and completing more than 150 combat missions in Southeast Asia from the aircraft carrier {{USS|Constellation|CV-64|6}}.

Macke reported to the United States Naval Postgraduate School in February 1970, where he graduated with distinction with a Master of Science degree in operations research and systems analysis. In March 1971, he reported to VA-66 at NAS Cecil Field, Florida as Executive Officer and later as Commanding Officer of that attack squadron, flying the A-7E Corsair II from the aircraft carrier {{USS|Independence|CV-62|6}}.

In January 1975, Macke was assigned to the Navy Office of Legislative Affairs in the Pentagon, where he was involved in presenting the Naval Aviation Program budget to members of Congress and their staffs. Following completion of Nuclear Propulsion Training, Admiral Macke served as Executive Officer of the aircraft carrier {{USS|Nimitz}}, where he participated in the attempted rescue of American hostages in Iran. Completing that tour, he was selected for major ship command and commanded the fast combat support ship {{USS|Camden|AOE-2|6}}.

Macke served a short tour as the Executive Assistant to the Navy Director of Command and Control in the Pentagon prior to reporting to the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier {{USS|Dwight D. Eisenhower}} as Commanding Officer on July 6, 1984. During his tour on the Dwight D. Eisenhower, the ship was awarded the Battle "E" as the most combat-ready aircraft carrier on the East Coast of the United States. Macke relinquished command on October 18, 1986.

Macke was selected for flag rank and reported as the commander of the Naval Space Command, where he led initiatives to enhance space support to tactical warriors. Next, he reported as the commander of Carrier Group Two in March 1988 and in January 1990 was selected for sequential command and became commander of Carrier Group Four. Macke was then nominated by President George H. W. Bush to serve in the grade of vice admiral as the Director for Command, Control, Communications and Computer (C4) System (J6) on the Joint Staff in the Pentagon. In December 1992, General Colin Powell chose Macke to serve as the Director of the Joint Staff.

Macke was nominated and confirmed for the four-star grade of admiral and left the Joint Staff to become the Commander in Chief, United States Pacific Command in July 1994.

{{Main|1995 Okinawan rape incident}}

Macke was relieved of his post at the Pacific Command in November 1995, only hours after making wildly insensitive comments to reporters about the case of three United States serviceman eventually convicted of kidnapping, beating, and raping a 12-year-old Japanese girl: "I think it was absolutely stupid. I have said several times: for the price they paid to rent the car [used in the crime], they could have had a girl."{{Citation| url = http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9511/macke_speaks/| title = Fired admiral gives public apology|publisher = CNN World News| access-date = November 22, 2010}}

Macke retired from the navy on April 1, 1996, as a two-star rear admiral, two stars lower than the rank he previously held.{{Citation| url = https://navalregister.bol.navy.mil/Default.aspx| title = Naval Register| publisher = US Navy| access-date = March 21, 2012}}{{dead link|date=April 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} Later that year, he was censured by the navy for matters related to an extramarital affair he had before his retirement with an unidentified female Marine Corps lieutenant colonel.{{cite news |last1=Eisman |first1=Dale |title=Retired Pacific admiral is censured. "Unduly familiar" relationship with Marine Corps officer is cited. |access-date=2 August 2021 |work=The Virginian-Pilot |date=16 October 1996 |url=https://scholar.lib.vt.edu/VA-news/VA-Pilot/issues/1996/vp961016/10160391.htm}}

{{Main|Ehime Maru and USS Greeneville collision}}

Macke was responsible for arranging the presence of civilians on board the submarine {{USS|Greeneville|SSN-772|6}} prior to its 2001 collision with the Japanese boat Ehime Maru, which was carrying high school students.{{Citation| last1 = Nathman| first1 = Vice Adm. John B.| last2 = Sullivan| first2 = Rear Adm. Paul F.| last3 = Stone| first3 = Rear Adm. David M.| last4 = Ozawa| first4 = Rear Adm. Isamu| date = April 13, 2001| title = Court of Inquiry into the Circumstances Surrounding the Collision between USS Greeneville (SSN 772) and Japanese M/V Ehime Maru that Occurred off the Coast of Oahu, Hawaii on 9 February 2001| publisher = U.S. Navy| url = http://www.cpf.navy.mil/subsite/ehimemaru/legal/GREENEVILLE_Combined_COI_Rpt.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304052148/https://www.cpf.navy.mil/subsite/ehimemaru/legal/GREENEVILLE_Combined_COI_Rpt.pdf |archive-date=2016-03-04 |url-status=dead |access-date=2024-06-26}} At the request of Macke, a civilian was at the helm of the submarine when the incident occurred. Nine Japanese civilians aboard the Ehime Maru were killed. Macke refused to testify at the court of inquiry of Commander Scott Waddle, the commanding officer of the USS Greeneville at the time of the incident.

{{Reflist}}

• http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Apr1995/m042595_m102-95.html
• [http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/VA-news/VA-Pilot/issues/1996/vp960316/03160349.htm The Virginian-Pilot: Admiral who was forced to quit is hired by international firm] (March 16, 1996)

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{{succession box|

before=Harold T. Fields (acting)|

title=Commander, United States Pacific Command|

after=Joseph Prueher|

years=1994–1996}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Macke, Richard}}

Category:1938 births

Category:2022 deaths

Category:20th-century American naval officers

Category:United States Navy personnel of the Vietnam War

Category:Recipients of the Defense Distinguished Service Medal

Category:Recipients of the Defense Superior Service Medal

Category:Recipients of the Legion of Merit

Category:United States Naval Academy alumni

Category:United States Navy admirals

Category:United States Naval Aviators

Category:People from Freeport, Illinois