Paul G. Gaffney II
Encyclopedia
Vice Admiral
Paul G. Gaffney II, USN (Ret.), is the seventh president of Monmouth University
in West Long Branch, New Jersey
.
Gaffney graduated from the United States Naval Academy
in 1968. Upon graduation, he was selected for immediate graduate education and received a master's degree in Ocean Engineering from The Catholic University of America
in Washington, D.C. He completed a year as a student and advanced research fellow at the Naval War College
, graduating with highest distinction. He completed an M.B.A. at Jacksonville University
. The University of South Carolina, Jacksonville University
, and The Catholic University of America
have awarded him honorary doctorates.
He was president of the National Defense University
from 2000 to 2003. Prior to assuming those duties, Admiral Gaffney was the Chief of Naval Research with responsibility for science and technology investment. In July, 2001 he was appointed by President George W. Bush
to the United States Commission on Ocean Policy
, and served through the full term of the Commission until 2004. On August 12, 2009, Gaffney was named the new chair of the Ocean Research & Resources Advisory Panel (ORRAP), a panel created by statute to advise federal agencies regarding ocean science and management matters.
Gaffney's naval career spanned over three decades including duty at sea, overseas, and ashore in executive and command positions. He served in Japan
, Vietnam
, Spain
, and Indonesia
. While a military officer, his career focused on oceanography, research administration, and education.
He is the eponym
of Gaffney Ridge, an undersea ridge in the South China Sea
, about 220 miles west of the Philippines
(located at Latitude 13° 23' 00" N and Longitude 118° 32' 00" E).
Gaffney is the recipient of a number of military decorations, the Naval War College's J. William Middendorf Prize for Strategic Research, the Outstanding Public Service Award from the Virginia Research and Technology Consortium, and the Potomac Institutes's Navigator Award. He has served on several boards of higher education and is a member of the Ocean Studies Board of the United States National Research Council. He is a Public Trustee for the New Jersey Consortium and a member of the Governor's Commission to Protect and Enhance New Jersey's Military Bases. He currently serves on the Meridian Health Board of Trustees.
Vice Admiral
Vice admiral is a senior naval rank of a three-star flag officer, which is equivalent to lieutenant general in the other uniformed services. A vice admiral is typically senior to a rear admiral and junior to an admiral...
Paul G. Gaffney II, USN (Ret.), is the seventh president of Monmouth University
Monmouth University
Monmouth University is a private university located in West Long Branch, New Jersey, United States.Founded in 1933 as Monmouth Junior College, it became Monmouth College in 1956, and later Monmouth University in 1995 after receiving its charter....
in West Long Branch, New Jersey
West Long Branch, New Jersey
West Long Branch is a borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 8,097. It is the home of Monmouth University....
.
Gaffney graduated from the United States Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
in 1968. Upon graduation, he was selected for immediate graduate education and received a master's degree in Ocean Engineering from The Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America is a private university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States. It is a pontifical university of the Catholic Church in the United States and the only institution of higher education founded by the U.S. Catholic bishops...
in Washington, D.C. He completed a year as a student and advanced research fellow at the Naval War College
Naval War College
The Naval War College is an education and research institution of the United States Navy that specializes in developing ideas for naval warfare and passing them along to officers of the Navy. The college is located on the grounds of Naval Station Newport in Newport, Rhode Island...
, graduating with highest distinction. He completed an M.B.A. at Jacksonville University
Jacksonville University
Jacksonville University is a private university in Jacksonville, Florida, on the banks of the St. Johns River. The school was founded in 1934 as a two year college and was known as Jacksonville Junior College until 1958, when it shifted its focus to four-year university degrees and adopted its...
. The University of South Carolina, Jacksonville University
Jacksonville University
Jacksonville University is a private university in Jacksonville, Florida, on the banks of the St. Johns River. The school was founded in 1934 as a two year college and was known as Jacksonville Junior College until 1958, when it shifted its focus to four-year university degrees and adopted its...
, and The Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America is a private university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States. It is a pontifical university of the Catholic Church in the United States and the only institution of higher education founded by the U.S. Catholic bishops...
have awarded him honorary doctorates.
He was president of the National Defense University
National Defense University
The National Defense University is an institution of higher education funded by the United States Department of Defense, intended to facilitate high-level training, education, and the development of national security strategy. It is chartered by the Joint Chiefs of Staff, with Navy Vice Admiral...
from 2000 to 2003. Prior to assuming those duties, Admiral Gaffney was the Chief of Naval Research with responsibility for science and technology investment. In July, 2001 he was appointed by President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
to the United States Commission on Ocean Policy
United States Commission on Ocean Policy
The United States Commission on Ocean Policy was created by an act of the 106th United States Congress known as the Oceans Act of 2000...
, and served through the full term of the Commission until 2004. On August 12, 2009, Gaffney was named the new chair of the Ocean Research & Resources Advisory Panel (ORRAP), a panel created by statute to advise federal agencies regarding ocean science and management matters.
Gaffney's naval career spanned over three decades including duty at sea, overseas, and ashore in executive and command positions. He served in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, and Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
. While a military officer, his career focused on oceanography, research administration, and education.
He is the eponym
Eponym
An eponym is the name of a person or thing, whether real or fictitious, after which a particular place, tribe, era, discovery, or other item is named or thought to be named...
of Gaffney Ridge, an undersea ridge in the South China Sea
South China Sea
The South China Sea is a marginal sea that is part of the Pacific Ocean, encompassing an area from the Singapore and Malacca Straits to the Strait of Taiwan of around...
, about 220 miles west of the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
(located at Latitude 13° 23' 00" N and Longitude 118° 32' 00" E).
Gaffney is the recipient of a number of military decorations, the Naval War College's J. William Middendorf Prize for Strategic Research, the Outstanding Public Service Award from the Virginia Research and Technology Consortium, and the Potomac Institutes's Navigator Award. He has served on several boards of higher education and is a member of the Ocean Studies Board of the United States National Research Council. He is a Public Trustee for the New Jersey Consortium and a member of the Governor's Commission to Protect and Enhance New Jersey's Military Bases. He currently serves on the Meridian Health Board of Trustees.
Sources
- National Defense University
- Potomac Institute Navigator Awards
- J. William Middendorf. Prize for Strategic Research
- US Board on Geographic Names
- Consortium for Ocean Leadership
External links
- Monmouth University Biography
- Executive Order creating Governor’s Commission to Support and Enhance New Jersey’s Military and Coast Guard Installations.
- http://www.oceancommission.gov/commission/commissionbios.html#gaffneyCommissioners' Biographies at United States Commission on Ocean PolicyUnited States Commission on Ocean PolicyThe United States Commission on Ocean Policy was created by an act of the 106th United States Congress known as the Oceans Act of 2000...
] - US Institute of Peace
- A Commanding Presence 6/27/2008