Frank Kelso facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Frank Kelso
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Kelso in 1994
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| Born | July 11, 1933 Fayetteville, Tennessee, United States |
| Died | June 23, 2013 (aged 79) Norfolk, Virginia, United States |
| Buried |
Rose Hill Cemetery, Fayetteville, Tennessee
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| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/ |
United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1956–1994 |
| Rank | Admiral |
| Commands held | Chief of Naval Operations Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic United States Atlantic Command United States Atlantic Fleet Sixth Fleet NATO Naval Striking Force and Support Forces Southern Europe Submarine Squadron 7 USS Bluefish USS Finback Naval Nuclear Power School |
| Awards | Defense Distinguished Service Medal (2) Navy Distinguished Service Medal (4) Army Distinguished Service Medal Air Force Distinguished Service Medal Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal Legion of Merit (4) |
| Spouse(s) | Landess McCown Kelso (−2012; her death) Georgia Robinson (2013; his death) |
Frank Benton Kelso II (born July 11, 1933 – died June 23, 2013) was a high-ranking officer, called an admiral, in the United States Navy. He was the leader of the Navy, known as the Chief of Naval Operations, from 1990 to 1994.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Frank Kelso was born in Fayetteville, Tennessee, on July 11, 1933. He went to public schools and then attended the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee. In 1952, he joined the United States Naval Academy, which is a special college for training Navy officers.
Military Career Highlights
After graduating in 1956, Kelso first served on a cargo ship called the USS Oglethorpe. In 1958, he went to Submarine School to learn about submarines.
After his training, Kelso worked on the submarine USS Sabalo. He then returned to Submarine School in 1960 to learn about nuclear power for submarines. He spent a year teaching in the Nuclear Power Department. Later, he served on the first crew of the USS Pollack, and was an Engineering Officer on the USS Daniel Webster. He also served as the Executive Officer (second-in-command) of the USS Sculpin.
From 1969 to 1971, Kelso was the Commanding Officer of the Naval Nuclear Power School in Port Deposit, Maryland. He then commanded two submarines, the USS Finback and the USS Bluefish. After that, he became a special assistant to the Commander in Chief of the United States Atlantic Command and Atlantic Fleet. He also worked for the Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic, a top NATO military leader, from 1975 to 1977.
Kelso then led Submarine Squadron 7. In 1978, he started working in the Navy's personnel department, helping with submarine programs. In February 1980, he was promoted to rear admiral, which is a two-star admiral.
As a rear admiral, Kelso worked in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. He also worked for the Secretary of the Navy, helping to review Navy programs. On February 8, 1985, Kelso became the Commander of the United States Sixth Fleet, which operates in the Mediterranean Sea. He also led NATO's naval forces in Southern Europe. During this time, his forces were involved in actions near Libya.
On June 30, 1986, Kelso was promoted to full admiral. He then became the Commander in Chief of the United States Atlantic Fleet. On November 22, 1988, he became the Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic and Commander in Chief of the United States Atlantic Command. His forces were involved in another incident near Libya in 1989. On June 29, 1990, Admiral Kelso became the 24th Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), the highest-ranking officer in the U.S. Navy.
Retirement and Later Life
Just before Admiral Kelso retired, some people in the government wanted to lower his rank. They believed that as the Navy's top officer, he was ultimately responsible for some issues that happened during his time. However, many other Senators agreed that Admiral Kelso had taken the right steps to handle these situations. Because of this, he was allowed to retire at his full rank of admiral. His supporters also praised him for making important changes to how Navy officers were trained.
Admiral Kelso retired in 2003 with his wife, Landess McCown Kelso, to his hometown in Fayetteville, Tennessee. Landess passed away in 2012. Frank Kelso died on June 23, 2013, in Norfolk, Virginia, after a fall. He had been married to his second wife, Georgia Robinson, for only two weeks. He was also survived by his two sons, who both served in the Navy, and two daughters.
Military Awards and Decorations
Admiral Kelso received many awards and decorations for his service. These show his achievements and dedication in the Navy.
 Officer Submarine Warfare insignia |
 .png){kind=small} Silver SSBN Deterrent Patrol insignia with three gold stars |
 Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge |
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See also
In Spanish: Frank Kelso para niños
