Archie Ray Clemins (November 18, 1943 – March 14, 2020) was a United States Navy four star admiral who served as Commander in Chief, United States Pacific Fleet (CINCPACFLT) from 1996 to 1999.
Archie R. Clemins | |
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![]() Admiral Archie R. Clemins | |
Born | Mount Vernon, Illinois | November 18, 1943
Died | March 14, 2020 Boise, Idaho | (aged 76)
Allegiance | ![]() |
Service/ | ![]() |
Years of service | 1966–1999 |
Rank | Admiral |
Commands | Pacific Fleet |
Awards | Navy Distinguished Service Medal Legion of Merit |
Military career
editClemins was born in Mount Vernon, Illinois on November 18, 1943, and graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering.[1] He was commissioned upon graduation and entered the Naval Nuclear Power program, serving aboard ballistic missile submarines. He returned to the University of Illinois for a master's degree.[2]
Before being promoted to flag rank in 1991, Clemins commanded the USS Pogy (SSN-647). As an admiral he commanded Pacific Fleet Training Command in San Diego, California, and the Seventh Fleet in Yokosuka, Japan. His final assignment was Commander in Chief of the United States Pacific Fleet. He retired from active duty on December 1, 1999, and settled with his wife, Marilyn, in Boise, Idaho.[2]
Awards and honors
editSubmarine Warfare insignia (Officer) |
Navy Distinguished Service Medal with two gold award stars | |
Legion of Merit with two award stars | |
Meritorious Service Medal | |
Navy Commendation Medal with award star | |
Navy Achievement Medal | |
Navy and Marine Corps Presidential Unit Citation with one bronze service star | |
Navy Unit Commendation with service star | |
Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation | |
Navy "E" Ribbon with one Battle E award | |
Navy Expeditionary Medal | |
National Defense Service Medal with service star | |
Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with silver service star | |
Navy & Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon |
Post military career
editAfter retiring from the navy, he established Caribou Technologies, Inc., and became co-owner of TableRock International LLC, both consulting firms for technology and business development.[2] He was the 2002 recipient of the Naval Order of the United States Distinguished Sea Service Award.[2]
Clemins recommended Australia as a location for new military testing sites to be used by both the Australian Defence Force and the US military as a result of disappearing sites in America. Speaking to The West Australian, he stated "You have to have places to drop bombs, you have to have places to shoot live weapons, places to fly planes over that make noise, places where you can actually test and exercise your capabilities. I think Australia in the future is going to be one of the places we'd like to exercise with the Australians, as well as with the US Navy. You now have some of the finest ranges in the Western Pacific which we cannot get anywhere else." Later the US military would indeed use Australia as a military exercising camp in the form of Exercise Talisman Sabre, which is held every 2 years since 2001 in about July.
He died at his home in Boise, Idaho, on March 14, 2020.[3]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Defense.gov News Release: FLAG OFFICER ANNOUNCEMENT". Archived from the original on 2010-11-29. Retrieved 2010-10-20.
- ^ a b c d "Naval Order of the United States". Archived from the original on 2008-03-11. Retrieved 2008-03-18. 2002 Distinguished Sea Service Award Honoree biography
- ^ "Archie Clemins Obituary". Legacy.com. Retrieved 2020-03-19.