Henry Goodman Chiles Jr. (born January 5, 1938) is a retired United States Navyfour star admiral who served as Commander in Chief, United States Strategic Command (USCINCSTRAT), from 1994 to 1996, the first naval officer to command all of the strategic nuclear forces of the United States.
Commander Chiles served at COMSUBPAC under instruction until December 1975 and then reported to USS Gurnard in February 1976. Following an under ice Arctic Ocean deployment, he assumed command of the Gurnard on 30 May 1976. The submarine also conducted a refueling overhaul in record time and a Western Pacific deployment before Chiles departed on 15 October 1979.
From April 1980 until July 1983, Chiles was special assistant to the director of the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program, U.S. Department of Energy, conducting fleet liaison and directing the prospective commanding officer's course for AdmiralHyman G. Rickover and his relief, Admiral Kinnaird R. McKee. He was promoted to captain while at this assignment.
Captain Chiles served as commander, Submarine Squadron Three until July, 1985 and then reported to Naval Training Center San Diego as the center commander.
Chiles served as director, Strategic Submarine Division and Deputy Assistant Chief of Naval Operations for undersea warfare between July 1985 and September 1987 and was promoted to rear admiral (lower half).
Rear Admiral Chiles took command of Submarine Group Eight, and also served concurrently as NATO's Commander Allied Submarines Mediterranean, based in Naples, Italy until December 1990. He received his second star during this assignment.
Vice Admiral Chiles served as Commander Submarines U.S. Atlantic Fleet (COMSUBLANT), as well as NATO's Commander Allied Submarines Atlantic, from December 1990 to September 1993.
Promoted to Admiral on 14 February 1994, Chiles took command of STRATCOM, the first U.S. flag officer to do so, a position that he held until his retirement on 21 February 1996.[3][4] The primary focus of Chiles' tenure as USCINCSTRAT was adjusting the structure and mission for U.S. strategic nuclear forces in a post-Cold War environment.[5][6]
Admiral Chiles has three sons: John, Peter, and Henry. His wife, the former Katherine (Katy) L. Pearson, died of Alzheimer's disease in October 2006. He remarried Alice Pearson. He currently attends John Calvin Presbyterian Church weekly where he teaches the youth group there.
^Managing a Stable Strategic Drawdown, prepared statement of Admiral Henry G. Chiles Jr., USN, commander in chief, U.S. Strategic Command, before the Senate Armed Services Committee, February 23, 1995.