Robert B. Carney

Robert B. Carney
Name	Robert B. Carney
Caption	Admiral Robert B. Carney, USN
Birth date	March 26, 1895
Birth place	Vallejo, California, U.S.
Death date	June 25, 1990
Death place	Washington, D.C., U.S.
Placeofburial	Arlington National Cemetery
Allegiance	United States
Branch	United States Navy
Serviceyears	1916–1955
Rank	Admiral
Commands	Chief of Naval Operations, United States Naval Forces Europe, United States Second Fleet, Cruiser Division 4, USS ''Denver''
Battles	World War I, World War II
Awards	Navy Distinguished Service Medal (3), Army Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal

Robert B. Carney was a distinguished United States Navy officer who served as the Chief of Naval Operations during the Cold War. His extensive career spanned both World War I and World War II, where he played key roles in major Pacific War campaigns. Carney later served as a senior NATO commander and was a prominent figure in shaping post-war naval strategy.

Early life and education

Robert Bostwick Carney was born on March 26, 1895, in Vallejo, California, a major naval center near the Mare Island Naval Shipyard. He received an appointment to the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, graduating in the class of 1916. His early education and proximity to the Pacific Fleet instilled a lifelong dedication to naval service and maritime affairs.

Naval career

Following his graduation and commissioning as an ensign, Carney served aboard the battleship USS ''New Hampshire'' during World War I. His early career included varied sea duty and specialized training in gunnery, establishing him as a skilled surface warfare officer. He later served on the staff of the Commander, Battleship Division One, and held positions within the Bureau of Ordnance in Washington, D.C., gaining critical administrative experience.

World War II service

During World War II, Carney's expertise proved vital in the Pacific Theater of Operations. He served as chief of staff to Admiral William Halsey Jr., commander of the South Pacific Area, during critical campaigns including the Guadalcanal Campaign and the Battle of the Bismarck Sea. In 1943, he took command of Cruiser Division 4, leading it in support of amphibious assaults in the Solomon Islands campaign. He later served as deputy chief of staff to Admiral Chester W. Nimitz at Pearl Harbor, helping plan major offensives across the Central Pacific.

Post-war service and NATO

After the war, Carney held several high-level commands, including commander of the United States Second Fleet in the Atlantic Ocean. In 1950, he was appointed Commander-in-Chief, Allied Forces Southern Europe, a pivotal NATO command based in Naples, Italy, during the early Cold War. President Dwight D. Eisenhower selected him to become the Chief of Naval Operations in 1953, where he advocated for a strong naval presence and modernized the fleet amidst tensions with the Soviet Union and the Korean War.

Later life and death

Carney retired from active duty in 1955 after nearly four decades of service. He remained engaged in public life, serving on corporate boards and providing commentary on national security issues. He lived for many years in Washington, D.C. before his death on June 25, 1990. He was interred with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.

Awards and honors

Admiral Carney's service was recognized with numerous decorations, including three awards of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal and the Army Distinguished Service Medal. He also received the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal, and was made an honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire. His legacy is commemorated by the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS ''Carney'', commissioned in his honor in 1996.

Category:1895 births Category:1990 deaths Category:United States Navy admirals Category:Chiefs of Naval Operations Category:United States Naval Academy alumni