Carlisle Trost
Encyclopedia
Admiral
Carlisle Albert Herman Trost, USN (born April 24, 1930 in Valmeyer, Illinois
) is a retired United States Navy
officer who served as the Navy's twenty-third Chief of Naval Operations
(CNO) and a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
from 1 July 1986 to 29 June 1990. He oversaw the Navy during the end of the Cold War, and the preparations for the first Persian Gulf War
(1991). He retired from active naval service on 1 July 1990, following completion of a four-year term as CNO.
Class of 1953 and was commissioned as an Ensign. He volunteered and was accepted to begin submarine training in 1954 and once again graduated first in his class from Submarine School in New London, CT. During his more than thirty-seven years of commissioned service, Admiral Trost served at sea in destroyers and diesel-powered and nuclear submarines, including tours as executive officer of two nuclear-powered submarines and as commanding officer of a Fleet Ballistic Missile submarine.
After selection to Flag Rank in 1973, he commanded Submarine Flotilla One/Submarine Group FIVE. Later operational assignments included deputy commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet; commander, Seventh Fleet (1980–1981); Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet
(1985–1986), and deputy commander, U.S. Atlantic Command. Ashore.
He served as military assistant to the Deputy Secretary of Defense, executive assistant to the Secretary of the Navy, and on the Navy Staff as Director, Systems Analysis Division, Assistant Chief of Naval Personnel and Director, Navy Program Planning.
In May 1986, Trost was nominated by President
Ronald Reagan
to succeed Admiral James D. Watkins
as Chief of Naval Operations. Trost served as CNO from July 1, 1986 to June 29, 1990. He was succeeded by Admiral Admiral Frank B. Kelso
.
s (two Defense DSMs
, three Navy DSMs
, one Army DSM
, one Air Force DSM)
, the Legion of Merit
(three awards), the Navy Achievement Medal, numerous campaign and service awards, and personal decorations from a number of foreign nations, including Japan's Order of the Rising Sun
(2nd Class with Gold and Silver Star) and the Republic of Korea's Order of National Security Merit Gugseon Medal.
Trost is an Olmsted Scholar. He is active in the Boy Scouts of America
as an adult, an Eagle Scout
and recipient of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award
.
He has four children and six grandchildren.
Admiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
Carlisle Albert Herman Trost, USN (born April 24, 1930 in Valmeyer, Illinois
Valmeyer, Illinois
Valmeyer is a village in Monroe County, Illinois, United States, on the Mississippi River. The population was 1200 at the 2006 census.-History:...
) is a retired United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
officer who served as the Navy's twenty-third Chief of Naval Operations
Chief of Naval Operations
The Chief of Naval Operations is a statutory office held by a four-star admiral in the United States Navy, and is the most senior uniformed officer assigned to serve in the Department of the Navy. The office is a military adviser and deputy to the Secretary of the Navy...
(CNO) and a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Joint Chiefs of Staff
The Joint Chiefs of Staff is a body of senior uniformed leaders in the United States Department of Defense who advise the Secretary of Defense, the Homeland Security Council, the National Security Council and the President on military matters...
from 1 July 1986 to 29 June 1990. He oversaw the Navy during the end of the Cold War, and the preparations for the first Persian Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
(1991). He retired from active naval service on 1 July 1990, following completion of a four-year term as CNO.
Naval career
He graduated first in his U.S. Naval AcademyUnited States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
Class of 1953 and was commissioned as an Ensign. He volunteered and was accepted to begin submarine training in 1954 and once again graduated first in his class from Submarine School in New London, CT. During his more than thirty-seven years of commissioned service, Admiral Trost served at sea in destroyers and diesel-powered and nuclear submarines, including tours as executive officer of two nuclear-powered submarines and as commanding officer of a Fleet Ballistic Missile submarine.
After selection to Flag Rank in 1973, he commanded Submarine Flotilla One/Submarine Group FIVE. Later operational assignments included deputy commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet; commander, Seventh Fleet (1980–1981); Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet
United States Fleet Forces Command
The United States Fleet Forces Command is an Atlantic Ocean theater-level component command of the United States Navy that provides naval resources that are under the operational control of the United States Northern Command...
(1985–1986), and deputy commander, U.S. Atlantic Command. Ashore.
He served as military assistant to the Deputy Secretary of Defense, executive assistant to the Secretary of the Navy, and on the Navy Staff as Director, Systems Analysis Division, Assistant Chief of Naval Personnel and Director, Navy Program Planning.
In May 1986, Trost was nominated by President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
to succeed Admiral James D. Watkins
James D. Watkins
Admiral James David Watkins is a retired United States Navy officer and former Chief of Naval Operations who also served as U.S. Secretary of Energy during the George H. W. Bush Administration and chaired U.S. government commissions on HIV/AIDS and ocean policy. Watkins has also served on the...
as Chief of Naval Operations. Trost served as CNO from July 1, 1986 to June 29, 1990. He was succeeded by Admiral Admiral Frank B. Kelso
Frank B. Kelso II
Frank Benton Kelso II is a retired admiral of the United States Navy, who served as Chief of Naval Operations in the early 1990s.-Early life:...
.
Awards and honors
Admiral Trost's decorations and awards include seven Distinguished Service MedalDistinguished Service Medal (United States)
The Distinguished Service Medal is the highest non-valorous military and civilian decoration of the United States military which is issued for exceptionally meritorious service to the government of the United States in either a senior government service position or as a senior officer of the United...
s (two Defense DSMs
Defense Distinguished Service Medal
The Defense Distinguished Service Medal is a United States military award which is presented for exceptionally distinguished performance of duty contributing to national security or defense of the United States...
, three Navy DSMs
Navy Distinguished Service Medal
The Navy Distinguished Service Medal is a military award of the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps which was first created in 1919. The decoration is the Navy and Marine Corps equivalent to the Army Distinguished Service Medal, the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, and the Coast...
, one Army DSM
Distinguished Service Medal (Army)
The Distinguished Service Medal is a military award of the United States Army that is presented to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the United States military, has distinguished himself or herself by exceptionally meritorious service to the Government in a duty of great...
, one Air Force DSM)
Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
The Air Force Distinguished Service Medal was created by an act of the United States Congress on July 6, 1960. The medal was intended as a new decoration of the United States Air Force to replace the policy of awarding the Army Distinguished Service Medal to Air Force personnel.The Air Force...
, the Legion of Merit
Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
(three awards), the Navy Achievement Medal, numerous campaign and service awards, and personal decorations from a number of foreign nations, including Japan's Order of the Rising Sun
Order of the Rising Sun
The is a Japanese order, established in 1875 by Emperor Meiji of Japan. The Order was the first national decoration awarded by the Japanese Government, created on April 10, 1875 by decree of the Council of State. The badge features rays of sunlight from the rising sun...
(2nd Class with Gold and Silver Star) and the Republic of Korea's Order of National Security Merit Gugseon Medal.
Defense Distinguished Service MedalDefense Distinguished Service MedalThe Defense Distinguished Service Medal is a United States military award which is presented for exceptionally distinguished performance of duty contributing to national security or defense of the United States...
with one Gold Star
Navy Distinguished Service MedalNavy Distinguished Service MedalThe Navy Distinguished Service Medal is a military award of the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps which was first created in 1919. The decoration is the Navy and Marine Corps equivalent to the Army Distinguished Service Medal, the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, and the Coast...
with two Gold Stars
Army Distinguished Service MedalDistinguished Service Medal (Army)The Distinguished Service Medal is a military award of the United States Army that is presented to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the United States military, has distinguished himself or herself by exceptionally meritorious service to the Government in a duty of great...
Air Force Distinguished Service MedalAir Force Distinguished Service MedalThe Air Force Distinguished Service Medal was created by an act of the United States Congress on July 6, 1960. The medal was intended as a new decoration of the United States Air Force to replace the policy of awarding the Army Distinguished Service Medal to Air Force personnel.The Air Force...
Legion of MeritLegion of MeritThe Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
with two Gold Stars
Navy and Marine Corps Achievement MedalAchievement MedalThe Achievement Medal is a military decoration of the United States military. The Achievement Medal was first proposed as a means to recognize the contributions of junior officers and enlisted personnel who were not eligible to receive the higher Commendation Medal or the Meritorious Service...
Trost is an Olmsted Scholar. He is active in the Boy Scouts of America
Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
as an adult, an Eagle Scout
Eagle Scout (Boy Scouts of America)
Eagle Scout is the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouting program of the Boy Scouts of America . A Scout who attains this rank is called an Eagle Scout or Eagle. Since its introduction in 1911, the Eagle Scout rank has been earned by more than 2 million young men...
and recipient of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award
Distinguished Eagle Scout Award
The Distinguished Eagle Scout Award is a distinguished service award of the Boy Scouts of America . It is awarded to an Eagle Scout for distinguished service in his profession and to his community for a period of at least 25 years after attaining the level of Eagle Scout...
.
Organizational affiliations
He was recognized as a distinguished graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and has also served on the Board of Directors of the Alumni Association, as well as President of the Class of '53. A fellow classmate and another past President of the Class of '53 is Texas businessman and former presidential candidate H. Ross Perot.Post-Navy career and family life
Since his retirement from the Navy, Admiral Trost has served on the boards of directors of a number of U.S. corporations. He is currently serving as Chairman of the Board of the U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association, in a term that ends in Spring 2009.He has four children and six grandchildren.
External links
- Biography of Trost from Shipmate (Spring 2003 issue), the magazine of the U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association and Foundation.