Joseph P. Aucoin (born April 25, 1957) is a retired officer of the United States Navy and former commander of the United States Seventh Fleet.
Career Vice Admiral Aucoin graduated from North Carolina State University with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and received his commission through the University of North Carolina Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps program in 1980. He was designated a naval flight officer in 1981 and reported to Fighter Squadron 101 (VF-101) for initial training in the F-14 Tomcat.
He has served in five different Fleet and Fleet Replacement Squadron F-14 fighter squadrons, to include command of VF-41. He is a graduate of the Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN) and has also commanded Carrier Air Wing Five (CVW-5), Carrier Strike Group Three (CSG-3), and was Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Warfare Systems before taking command of U.S. 7th Fleet.
He is also an Arthur S. Moreau Scholar and holds master's degrees in Public Administration from Harvard University and in National Security Studies and Strategic Affairs from the Naval War College.
Speaking at West 2017 Conference in February 2017, Aucoin stated, "If there's a fight tonight, it's probably going to happen on the Korean Peninsula."
Following a collision between the Seventh Fleet destroyer and an oil tanker, the second such collision that resulted in fatalities in two months (see also USS Fitzgerald and MV ACX Crystal collision), as well as lesser incidents involving and , Aucoin was relieved of his command on August 23, 2017, by Vice Admiral Phillip G. Sawyer, deputy commander of the United States Pacific Fleet, due to "loss of confidence in his ability to command."
Awards and decorations
Naval Flight Officer insigniaNavy Distinguished Service Medal with one gold award starSilver StarLegion of Merit with three award starsDistinguished Flying Cross with Combat VBronze Star with award starDefense Meritorious Service MedalMeritorious Service Medal with award starAir Medal with two award stars, Combat V and bronze Strike/Flight numeral 8Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Combat V and three award starsNavy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with two award starsJoint Meritorious Unit Award with one bronze oak leaf clusterNavy Unit Commendation with one bronze service starNavy Meritorious Unit CommendationNavy "E" Ribbon with two Battle "E" devicesNavy Expeditionary MedalNational Defense Service Medal with service starArmed Forces Expeditionary Medal with service starSouthwest Asia Service Medal with two service starsKosovo Campaign MedalGlobal War on Terrorism Expeditionary MedalArmed Forces Service MedalHumanitarian Service MedalNavy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with two silver and one bronze service starsNavy & Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon with two service starsNATO Medal for the former YugoslaviaKuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)Navy Expert Rifleman MedalNavy Expert Pistol Shot MedalOffice of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge
References