Adm. Christopher W. Grady of Newport, Rhode Island, he is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and received his commission through the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps program. He is a distinguished graduate of Georgetown University where he earned a Master of Arts in National Security Studies while concurrently participating as a fellow in Foreign Service at the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service. He is also a distinguished graduate of the National War College earning a Master of Science in National Security Affairs.

A career surface warfare officer, Grady served aboard USS Moosbrugger (DD 980) and USS Princeton (CG 59). He then commanded USS Chief (MCM 14), as rotational Crew Echo, and deployed in command of USS Ardent (MCM 12), in Operation Desert Fox. He also commanded USS Cole (DDG 67), where he deployed as part of NATO’s Standing Naval Forces Mediterranean; Destroyer Squadron, where he deployed to the Arabian Gulf as sea combat commander for the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom; and Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 1/Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group, where he deployed for nearly 10 months to the Western Pacific and the Arabian Gulf conducting combat operations in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.

Ashore, Grady served on the Joint Chiefs of Staff and then as naval aide to the Chief of Naval Operations; as the assistant branch head, Europe and Eurasia Politico-Military Affairs Branch (OPNAV N524); as executive assistant to the Navy’s Chief of Legislative Affairs; as the deputy executive secretary of the National Security Council in the White House, and as Executive Assistant to the Chief of Naval Operations.

As a flag officer, he served as director of the Maritime Operations Center (N2/3/5/7), Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet; Commander, Naval Surface Force Atlantic; Commander, U.S. 6th Fleet/Commander, Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO/Deputy Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe and U.S. Naval Forces Africa. He most recently served as commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, and as Commander Naval Forces U.S. Northern Command, Commander Naval Forces U.S. Strategic Command, and as Commander Task Force Atlantic in coordination with U.S. Naval Forces Europe.

Grady serves as the 12th Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In this capacity, he is a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Nation’s second highest-ranking military officer.

His personal awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit (five awards), and Meritorious Service Medal (five awards), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (four awards), and the Combat "V," Joint Service Achievement Medal, and the 'Old Salt' award. Grady is a joint specialty officer.