Frank B. Kelso II

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Frank B. Kelso II
1933-

Admiral Frank B. Kelso II in 1991
Place of birth Fayetteville, Tennessee
Years of service 1956-1993
Rank Admiral
Commands Chief of Naval Operations
Awards Legion of Merit

Frank Benton Kelso II (born July 11, 1933 in Fayetteville, Tennessee) was an admiral of the United States Navy, who served as Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) in the early 1990s.

Kelso, a native of Fayetteville, Tennessee, attended public school and the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee, prior to entering the U.S. Naval Academy in 1952. Following graduation in 1956, he served in the cargo ship USS Oglethorpe (AKA-100) before attending Submarine School in 1958.

On completion of training, he was assigned to the submarine Sabalo (SS-302) before returning to Submarine School for nuclear power training in January 1960. He then served one year in the Nuclear Power Department at the school. Subsequent tours included the precommissioning crew of Pollack (SSN-603), Engineering Officer aboard Daniel Webster (SSBN-626) and Executive Officer of Sculpin (SSN-590).

From January 1969 to August 1971, he served as Commanding Officer, U.S. Naval Nuclear Power School in Bainbridge, Maryland. Following tours included Commanding Officer, Finback (SSN-670); Staff of Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet; and Commanding Officer, Bluefish (SSN-675). Kelso was then assigned as Executive Assistant to the Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Command and U.S. Atlantic Fleet and Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic from September 1975 to July 1977.

He served as Commander, Submarine Squadron 7 until reporting as Division Director, Submarine Distribution Division in the Naval Military Personnel Command, and Section Head of the Submarine Programs Section in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Manpower, Personnel and Training) in September 1978. He was selected for promotion to the rank of rear admiral in February 1980.

Upon selection for flag rank, Admiral Kelso served as Director, Strategic Submarine Division, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, and then was assigned as Director, Office of Program Appraisal, Office of the Secretary of the Navy. On February 8, 1985, Admiral Kelso became Commander Sixth Fleet and NATO Commander Naval Striking Force and Support Forces Southern Europe. On June 30, 1986, Kelso was promoted to admiral and assumed the duties of Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet. Kelso became Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic and Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Command on November 22, 1988. In that capacity his forces were involved in the second Gulf of Sidra incident (1989). He succeeded Admiral Carlisle A.H. Trost to became the Navy's 24th Chief of Naval Operations on June 29, 1990.

Kelso attended the 1991 Tailhook Association meeting in Las Vegas (his second time), and subsequently a navy judge found that he misrepresented the facts in denying personal knowledge of improprieties occurring there. Consequently, Kelso was forced into early retirement amid a political scandal and aviator complaints that he had failed to ensure due process for accused personnel. It can be stated that Admiral Kelso offered his resignation to President Clinton during this time, but President Clinton rejected this offer. Kelso was succeeded by Admiral Jeremy M. Boorda on April 23, 1994.

Admiral Kelso has been awarded the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Navy Distinguished Service Medal (three awards), Legion of Merit (four awards), Meritorious Service, Navy Commendation and Navy Achievement Medals.

[edit] References

Preceded by
Carlisle A.H. Trost		 United States Chief of Naval Operations
1990 – 1994		 Succeeded by
Jeremy M. Boorda
Preceded by
Sean O'Keefe		 United States Secretary of the Navy (acting)
January 2, 1993 – July 21, 1993		 Succeeded by
John H. Dalton
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