James Symonds
Encyclopedia
Rear Admiral James A. Symonds is a member of the United States Navy
and former Commanding Officer of the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76)
. He had a prominent, symbolic role in the state funeral
of former United States President Ronald Reagan
in 2004.
, New York
. He attended the State University of New York at Albany and graduated with a Bachelor's degree
in mathematics in 1975. He later was commissioned at the Aviation Officer Candidate School at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida
that September and was designated a Naval Flight Officer in July 1976.
. In 1983, he became a naval aviator after being selected for pilot training and returned to Naval Air Station Whidbey Island
. He then particiapted in two additional operational tours with Attack Squadron 196, and was deployed onboard the USS Constellation (CV-64)
and the USS Independence (CV-62)
amidst Operation Desert Storm.
In October 1992, Symonds was promoted to Executive Officer of Attack Squadron 165 on the USS Nimitz (CVN-68) and took full command the following October. In 1995 he attended Navy Nuclear Power Training. Symonds was later assigned as Executive Officer of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69)
, and led the ship on a 1988 deployment order to the Mediterranean Gulf; he assumed command of the USS Nashville
in 2001.
In August 2003 Symonds became Commanding Officer of the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76)
, the Navy's newest aircraft carrier. He presided over the ship's transfer from Norfolk, Virginia
to its homeport in San Diego, California
.
On June 5, 2004, while Symonds was commanding officer, former President Ronald Reagan
, the ship's namesake, died at his home in California
. Upon former First Lady
Nancy Reagan
's request, the Commanding Officer of the USS Reagan would present her the American flag the draped the president's casket; at the time, it was Symonds. Following a national funeral service in the Washington National Cathedral
and six days of public mourning, Symonds presented Nancy Reagan with the flag at President Reagan's gravesite at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library
prior to his interment.
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...
and former Commanding Officer of the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76)
USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76)
USS Ronald Reagan is a Nimitz-class nuclear-powered supercarrier in the service of the United States Navy. The ninth ship of her class, she is named in honor of former President Ronald Reagan, President of the United States from 1981 to 1989...
. He had a prominent, symbolic role in the state funeral
Death and state funeral of Ronald Reagan
On June 5, 2004, Ronald Reagan, the 40th President of the United States, died after having suffered from Alzheimer's disease for nearly a decade. His seven-day state funeral followed, spanning June 5–11...
of former United States President 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....
in 2004.
Early life and education
Symonds is a native of SodusSodus, New York
Sodus, New York may refer to:*Sodus , New York in Wayne County*Sodus , New York in Wayne County...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. He attended the State University of New York at Albany and graduated with a Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in mathematics in 1975. He later was commissioned at the Aviation Officer Candidate School at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida
Pensacola, Florida
Pensacola is the westernmost city in the Florida Panhandle and the county seat of Escambia County, Florida, United States of America. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 56,255 and as of 2009, the estimated population was 53,752...
that September and was designated a Naval Flight Officer in July 1976.
Military career
Symonds served one operational tour assigned as an A-6 Intruder Bombardier/Navigator in Attack Squadron 115, aboard the USS Midway (CV-41)USS Midway (CV-41)
USS Midway was an aircraft carrier of the United States Navy, the lead ship of her class, and the first to be commissioned after the end of World War II...
. In 1983, he became a naval aviator after being selected for pilot training and returned to Naval Air Station Whidbey Island
Naval Air Station Whidbey Island
Naval Air Station Whidbey Island is a naval air station located in two sections around Oak Harbor, Washington, USA. It was commissioned as an active U.S. Navy installation on 21 September 1942....
. He then particiapted in two additional operational tours with Attack Squadron 196, and was deployed onboard the USS Constellation (CV-64)
USS Constellation (CV-64)
USS Constellation , a Kitty Hawk-class supercarrier, was the third ship of the United States Navy to be named in honor of the "new constellation of stars" on the flag of the United States and the only naval vessel ever authorized to display red, white, and blue designation numbers...
and the USS Independence (CV-62)
USS Independence (CV-62)
The fifth USS Independence is a of the United States Navy. It was the fourth and final member of the Forrestal-class conventional-powered Supercarrier...
amidst Operation Desert Storm.
In October 1992, Symonds was promoted to Executive Officer of Attack Squadron 165 on the USS Nimitz (CVN-68) and took full command the following October. In 1995 he attended Navy Nuclear Power Training. Symonds was later assigned as Executive Officer of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69)
USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69)
USS Dwight D. Eisenhower is an aircraft carrier currently in service with the United States Navy. Commissioned in 1977, the ship is the second of the ten Nimitz-class supercarriers currently in service, and is the first ship named after the thirty-fourth President of the United States, Dwight D....
, and led the ship on a 1988 deployment order to the Mediterranean Gulf; he assumed command of the USS Nashville
USS Nashville
USS Nashville may refer to:, was a gunboat in service from 1897 to 1918, was a light cruiser in service from 1938 to 1946; sold to Chile in 1951 and scrapped in 1985, was an amphibious transport dock that served from 1970 to 2009See also...
in 2001.
USS Ronald Reagan
USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76)
USS Ronald Reagan is a Nimitz-class nuclear-powered supercarrier in the service of the United States Navy. The ninth ship of her class, she is named in honor of former President Ronald Reagan, President of the United States from 1981 to 1989...
, the Navy's newest aircraft carrier. He presided over the ship's transfer from Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
to its homeport in San Diego, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
On June 5, 2004, while Symonds was commanding officer, former President 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....
, the ship's namesake, died at his home in California
Death and state funeral of Ronald Reagan
On June 5, 2004, Ronald Reagan, the 40th President of the United States, died after having suffered from Alzheimer's disease for nearly a decade. His seven-day state funeral followed, spanning June 5–11...
. Upon former First Lady
First Lady of the United States
First Lady of the United States is the title of the hostess of the White House. Because this position is traditionally filled by the wife of the president of the United States, the title is most often applied to the wife of a sitting president. The current first lady is Michelle Obama.-Current:The...
Nancy Reagan
Nancy Reagan
Nancy Davis Reagan is the widow of former United States President Ronald Reagan and was First Lady of the United States from 1981 to 1989....
's request, the Commanding Officer of the USS Reagan would present her the American flag the draped the president's casket; at the time, it was Symonds. Following a national funeral service in the Washington National Cathedral
Washington National Cathedral
The Washington National Cathedral, officially named the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, is a cathedral of the Episcopal Church located in Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States. Of neogothic design, it is the sixth-largest cathedral in the world, the second-largest in...
and six days of public mourning, Symonds presented Nancy Reagan with the flag at President Reagan's gravesite at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library
Ronald Reagan Presidential Library
The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Center for Public Affairs is the presidential library and final resting place of Ronald Wilson Reagan, the 40th President of the United States. Designed by Hugh Stubbins and Associates, the library is located in Simi Valley, California, about northwest of...
prior to his interment.
Recent career
Symonds turned over command of the USS Reagan to Captain Terry Kraft on November 17, 2005. His more recent posts have been Navy Director of Environmental Readiness and Commander of the Navy Region Northwest, a position he took up in July 2007.Awards
- 4,000 flight hours in the A-6 IntruderA-6 IntruderThe Grumman A-6 Intruder was an American, twin jet-engine, mid-wing attack aircraft built by Grumman Aerospace. In service with the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps between 1963 and 1997, the Intruder was designed as an all-weather medium attack aircraft to replace the piston-engined A-1 Skyraider...
- Defense Superior Service MedalDefense Superior Service MedalThe Defense Superior Service Medal is a senior United States military decoration of the Department of Defense, awarded to members of the United States armed forces who perform "superior meritorious service in a position of significant responsibility."...
- 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...
(three awards) - Meritorious Service MedalMeritorious Service Medal (United States)The Meritorious Service Medal is a military decoration presented to members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguished themselves by outstanding meritorious achievement or service to the United States subsequent to January 16, 1969...
(four awards)
- Strike Flight Medal
- Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (three awards)
- Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (two awards)