{{Short description|United States Navy designation}} {{For|the mountain|Goat Range (Alberta)}} thumb|RADM Alton L. Stocks, the original and first “Old Goat,” presented the coveted Old Goat decanter—the award’s traditional trophy—to VADM Michael H. Miller at the United States Memorial Hall. thumb|right|The Old Goat decanter in the possession of Admiral Mark Ferguson, Class of 1978. thumb|Admiral Harry Harris accepts the Old Goat decanter from retired Admiral Cecil Haney in April 2017. In United States Naval Academy terminology, the '''Old Goat''' is the longest-serving Naval Academy graduate on active duty.<ref name="USNA Superintendent">{{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|archive-date=3 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180403112637/http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/anne-arundel/annapolis/bs-md-naval-academy-change-of-command-20140723-story.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="ADM Harris Interview">{{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|archive-date=18 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170618160931/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNl4mBn8hiM|url-status=live}}</ref> Since 2014, the designation has been accompanied by an award created by a previous Old Goat, Rear Admiral Alton L. Stocks. The award{{Spaced en dash}}a crystal decanter engraved with the initials and class years of previous holders{{Spaced en dash}}is passed to a new Old Goat upon the current holder's retirement.<ref name="ADM Stocks 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}} </ref><ref name="ADM Ferguson">{{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}}</ref> There have been ten 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. |- | 100px|center |style="text-align:center"| {{small|Rear Admiral}}<br />Alton L. Stocks |style="text-align:center"| 1972 |style="text-align:center"| ''N/A'' |style="text-align:center"| 8 March 2014 |style="text-align:center"| Deputy Chief, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery |style="text-align:center"| <ref name="ADM Stocks Retirement" /> |- | 100px|center |style="text-align:center"| {{small|Vice Admiral}}<br />Michael H. Miller |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 |style="text-align:center"| <ref name="USNA Superintendent" /> |- | 100px|center |style="text-align:center"| {{small|Admiral}}<br />Jonathan W. Greenert |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 |style="text-align:center"| <ref name="ADM Ferguson" /> |- | 100px|center |style="text-align:center"| {{small|Admiral}}<br />Mark E. Ferguson III |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 &<br />U.S. Naval Forces Africa |style="text-align:center"| <ref name="ADM Ferguson" /> |- | 100px|center |style="text-align:center"| {{small|Admiral}}<br />Cecil D. Haney |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 |style="text-align:center"| <ref>{{cite news|title=U.S. Strategic Command welcomes Hyten as new commander|url=https://www.afgsc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/995895/us-strategic-command-welcomes-hyten-as-new-commander/|access-date=31 March 2018|agency=U.S. Strategic Command|date=3 November 2016|archive-date=3 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180403112522/http://www.afgsc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/995895/us-strategic-command-welcomes-hyten-as-new-commander/|url-status=live}}</ref> |- | 100px|center |style="text-align:center"| {{small|Admiral}}<br />Harry B. Harris Jr. |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 | |- | 100px|center |style="text-align:center"| {{small|Admiral}}<br />Kurt W. Tidd |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 |style="text-align:center"| <ref>{{cite web|last=Garamone|first=Jim|url=https://www.war.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/1490820/pacoms-harris-passes-old-goat-award-to-southcoms-tidd/|title=Pacom's Harris Passes 'Old Goat' Award to Southcom's Tidd|date=11 April 2018|access-date=3 September 2022|website=U.S. Department of Defense|archive-date=7 September 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250907070200/https://www.war.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/1490820/pacoms-harris-passes-old-goat-award-to-southcoms-tidd/|url-status=live}}</ref> |- | 100px|center |style="text-align:center"| {{small|Admiral}}<br />William K. Lescher |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 |style="text-align:center"| <ref>{{cite web|last=Garamone|first=Jim|url=https://www.southcom.mil/MEDIA/NEWS-ARTICLES/Article/1659306/passing-the-decanter-the-us-naval-academy-way/|title=Passing the Decanter, the U.S. Naval Academy Way|date=8 October 2018|access-date=3 September 2022|website=U.S. Southern Command|archive-date=7 October 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241007131723/https://www.southcom.mil/MEDIA/NEWS-ARTICLES/Article/1659306/passing-the-decanter-the-us-naval-academy-way/|url-status=live}}</ref> |- | 100px|center |style="text-align:center"| {{small|Admiral}}<br />James F. Caldwell Jr. |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 |style="text-align:center"| <ref name="caldwell">{{cite web|url=https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/activity:6970050566827692032|title=ADM William Lescher '80 passed the Old Goat Award to ADM Frank Caldwell '81 during an unofficial ceremony this month at the U.S. Naval War College.|date=30 August 2022|access-date=3 September 2022|publisher=United States Naval Academy|website=LinkedIn|archive-date=2 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220902170113/https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/activity:6970050566827692032|url-status=live}}</ref> |- | 100px|center |style="text-align:center"| {{small|Admiral}}<br />John C. Aquilino |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 |style="text-align:center"| <ref name="aquilino">{{cite tweet|author=Naval Reactors|user=USNavyNNPP|number=1744857257723285947|title=Besides being Director, @USNavyNNPP, Adm. Frank Caldwell has also been holding the Old Goat Award – as the longest serving @NavalAcademy graduate on active duty - passed today to Adm. John Aquilino, Commander, @INDOPACOM}}</ref> |- | 100px|center |style="text-align:center"| {{small|Admiral}}<br />Stuart B. Munsch |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"| <ref name="munsch">{{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|archive-date=2024-07-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240706233055/https://www.c6f.navy.mil/Press-Room/News/News-Display/Article/3820698/naveur-navaf-commander-becomes-us-navys-old-goat/|url-status=live}}</ref> |}
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.<ref name="munsch"/>
==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.<ref name=4-Stars>{{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|archive-date=3 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180403112615/https://www.usna.edu/NewsCenter/2016/01/naval-academy-class-of-78-shines-with-four-4-stars.php|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Class of 1978">{{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}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
Category:United States Naval Academy Category:United States Naval Academy alumni