Daryl Lane Caudle (born 1963) is an American admiral and engineer who has served as the 34th chief of naval operations since 2025.
Caudle was born in North Carolina. He graduated from the Officer Candidate School of the United States Navy in 1985, and holds degrees in the fields of engineering and physics from North Carolina State University, Old Dominion University, the University of Phoenix, and the Naval Postgraduate School. He is also a licensed professional engineer.
He has commanded three submarines. His senior assignments have included Commander, Submarine Force, Pacific Fleet; Vice Director for Strategy, Plans, and Policy on the Joint Staff (J-5) in Washington, D.C.; concurrent terms as Commander, Naval Submarine Forces, Submarine Force Atlantic, and Allied Submarine Command from 2019 to 2021; and Commander, United States Fleet Forces Command, from 2021 to 2025.
Caudle directed air attacks during Operation Inherent Resolve and Operation Odyssey Lightning.
Early life and education Caudle was born in 1963 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering from North Carolina State University in 1985. He was commissioned in the Navy after completing his training from Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island. He holds advanced academic degrees from the Naval Postgraduate School where he graduated with distinction with a Master of Science in Physics in 1992 and from Old Dominion University with a Master of Science in engineering management. He also graduated from the School of Advanced Studies, a branch of University of Phoenix, where he obtained his doctor of management in organizational leadership with a specialization in information systems and technology.
Caudle's published dissertation focused on military decision-making uncertainty while considering the use of force in cyberspace. He is also a professional engineer.
On December 4, 2020, the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (CBE) at North Carolina State University awarded him the CBE Distinguished Alumni Award.
Naval career
Caudle served at various posts during his sea tour assignments such as division officer, , engineer of and as well as serving as executive officer of . His first command assignment was as commanding officer of . While appointed to the Submarine Squadron 11 as deputy commander, he served as commanding officer of and . He also commanded Submarine Squadron 3 as Commodore.
Caudle's tours ashore include assignments as assistant force nuclear power officer, commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet; Officer-in-Charge of Moored Training Ship (MTS 635); deputy commander of Submarine Squadron 11; assistant deputy director for information and cyberspace policy on the Joint Staff (J-5) in Washington, D.C.; and chief of staff, commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet.
Caudle's other flag assignments include deputy chief for security cooperation, Office of the Defense Representative, Pakistan where he directly supported coalition forces for Operation Enduring Freedom; deputy commander, Joint Functional Component Command for Global Strike; deputy commander, U.S. 6th Fleet; director of operations U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa; commander, Submarine Group Eight, where he directed combat strikes using the first ever dual Carrier operations with allies in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. He also designed the plan and directed combat sorties for Operation Odyssey Lightning to counter violent extremists in Libya; and commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet. After that, he was vice director for Strategy, Plans, and Policy on the Joint Staff (J-5) in Washington, D.C.
In August 2019, Caudle became commander, Naval Submarine Forces; commander, Submarine Force Atlantic; and commander, Allied Submarine Command. In these posts he was responsible for providing strategic guidance for the submarine force, commanding all Atlantic-based submarine forces, and serving as the main advisor to NATO on submarine warfare. He was also in that role during the Navy's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. He relinquished command in September 2021.
In July 2021, he was nominated and confirmed for promotion to four-star admiral to succeed Christopher W. Grady as commander of the United States Fleet Forces Command. He became the head of Fleet Forces Command, which provides Navy forces to unified combatant commanders, in December 2021. In that position he was also simultaneously the commander of Naval Forces, U.S. Northern Command, and Naval Forces, U.S. Strategic Command.
Chief of naval operations Confirmation process In 2023 and 2025, Caudle was among the candidates under consideration to become the chief of naval operations. In the first instance, Lisa Franchetti was chosen by President Joe Biden. In June 2025, he was nominated to serve as the chief of naval operations by President Donald Trump, replacing James Kilby, who had been the acting chief since Franchetti was removed by Trump in February. Caudle relinquished command of U.S. Fleet Forces Command on 6 August 2025; his deputy, Vice Admiral John Gumbleton, succeeded him as acting commander. He became the chief of naval operations on 25 August 2025.
During Caudle's tenure as commander of Fleet Forces Command, his staff allegedly reached out to President Trump's nominee for Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth to offer his help in preparing Hegseth for the confirmation hearings in front of the Senate. Hegseth did not reply to the alleged offer. The alleged behavior was classified as a breach of military ethics by officials familiar with the matter.
Inspector general investigation In 2025, after his selection as the nominee for Chief of Naval Operations was being staffed, an investigation by the Naval Inspector General commenced into the conduct of Admiral Caudle. The investigation was focusing on comments Caudle had allegedly made a year prior to sailors in regard to the Pentagon's Sexual Assault Prevention and Response program. Multiple sailors recalled an informal conversation in which Caudle pledged for the program to prioritize prevention in order to improve the program's efficacy and protect sailors from sexual assault. At least one sailor allegedly saw his comments as blaming victims for their sexual assaults.
In response to the investigation and based on recommendations from Navy officials, Caudle hired Timothy Parlatore as counsel. Parlatore, a trial attorney, had previously negiotated a settlement on behalf of Pete Hegseth after accusations of rape against him in 2017. He had also represented President Trump in response to the January 6 attack and the classified documents case.
The inspector general eventually found the allegations against Caudle to be unsubstantiated. In August 2026, Representative Jason Crow (D-CO) formally requested comment by Secretary Hegseth about Parlatore's influence in senior personnel decisions in the Department.
Tenure
In November 2025 Caudle went on a 10-day tour of the Asia-Pacific, visiting U.S. bases in the region and allied shipyards in South Korea and Japan. The purpose of the tour was to examine the living conditions for sailors and to explore cooperation with allied countries to assist the U.S. shipbuilding industry.
In February 2026 Caudle released the U.S. Navy Fighting Instructions, a framework of his strategic vision for the development of the Navy.
In the Secretary of Defense Orders Book of 14 August 2026, Caudle informed Hegseth that the Navy is not capable of sustaining its deployments in the war against Iran. He added that the prolonged deployment for the Iran war has reduced the readiness of the Navy's ships, with only a quarter of its destroyer force ready to deploy, and its capability to respond to potential conflicts elsewhere. That month, he estimated that the Navy will need an additional $6–8 billion over its annual budget to remain solvent amid its efforts related to the Iran war and blockade. During a Q&A session with sailors on 31 August, Caudle said that they should expect longer deployments until the fleet and force is expanded.
Awards and decorations Personal decorationsDefense Distinguished Service MedalNavy Distinguished Service MedalDefense Superior Service Medal with three bronze oak leaf clustersLegion of Merit with three gold award starsMeritorious Service Medal with two award starsNavy Commendation Medal with four award starsNavy Achievement Medal with three award starsUnit AwardsJoint Meritorious Unit Award with two oak leaf clustersNavy Unit CommendationNavy Meritorious Unit Commendation with two bronze service starsNavy "E" Ribbon with three Battle E devicesCampaign and service medalsNavy Expeditionary Medal with service starNational Defense Service Medal with service starGlobal War on Terrorism Expeditionary MedalGlobal War on Terrorism Service MedalKorea Defense Service MedalArmed Forces Service MedalMilitary Outstanding Volunteer Service MedalNavy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with seven service starsNavy Arctic Service RibbonNavy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon with two service starsSpecial Operations Service Ribbon with service starForeign and international awardsBrazilian Order of Naval Merit, CommanderPeruvian Order of Naval Merit, Grand CrossNATO Medal for the former Yugoslavia with service starMarksmanship awardsNavy Rifle Marksmanship RibbonNavy Expert Pistol Shot MedalOther accoutrements Submarine Warfare insignia (Officer) Silver SSBN Deterrent Patrol insignia (7 awards) Command at Sea insignia Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge
Dates of promotion + Rank Branch Date EnsignNavy 1985 Lieutenant junior grade28 April 1988 Lieutenant Lieutenant commander31 October 1995 Commander27 June 2000 Captain22 May 2006 Rear admiral (lower half)23 May 2013 Rear admiral1 May 2017 Vice admiral26 September 2019 Admiral29 July 2021
Personal life Caudle is married to Donna Caudle, with whom he has two daughters, two stepdaughters, three grandsons, and two granddaughters. Two of his sons-in-law are active duty military, one in the Navy and one in the Marine Corps. He lives in Washington, DC.
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