In United States Naval Academy terminology, the Old Goat is the longest-serving Naval Academy graduate on active duty. Since 2014, the designation has been accompanied by an award created by a previous Old Goat, Rear Admiral Alton L. Stocks. The awarda crystal decanter engraved with the initials and class years of previous holdersis passed to a new Old Goat upon the current holder's retirement. There have been ten Old Goats so awarded, each after more than 35 years' service to the U.S. Navy.
Award recipients PhotoRecipientClassAwarded titleRelinquished titleLast positionRef. Alton L. Stocks 1972 N/A 8 March 2014 Deputy Chief, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery Michael H. Miller 1974 8 March 2014 1 August 2015 Superintendent, United States Naval Academy Jonathan W. Greenert 1975 1 August 2015 18 September 2015 Chief of Naval Operations Mark E. Ferguson III 1978 18 September 2015 1 July 2016 Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe &U.S. Naval Forces Africa Cecil D. Haney 1978 1 July 2016 17 January 2017 Commander, U.S. Strategic Command Harry B. Harris Jr. 1978 17 January 2017 11 April 2018 Commander, U.S. Pacific Command Kurt W. Tidd 1978 11 April 2018 8 October 2018 Commander, U.S. Southern Command William K. Lescher 1980 8 October 2018 30 August 2022 Vice Chief of Naval Operations James F. Caldwell Jr. 1981 30 August 2022 10 January 2024 Director, Naval Reactors John C. Aquilino 1984 9 January 2024 26 June 2024 Commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Stuart B. Munsch 1985 26 June 2024 Incumbent Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa
The current Old Goat is Admiral Stuart B. Munsch (USNA ’85), who has served as Commander, United States Naval Forces Europe and Africa since 2022. He received the title and accompanying award from Admiral John C. Aquilino, the outgoing commander of United States Indo-Pacific Command on 26 June 2024.
Class of 1978 The Naval Academy's Class of 1978 was just the fourth USNA class to produce four full (four-star) admirals; each was recognized as the Old Goat.
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