James Kilby

James Wells Kilby^[1] (born 1963)^[2] is a United States Navy admiral who has served as the acting chief of naval operations since February 21, 2025, and as the vice chief of naval operations since January 5, 2024.^[3][4][5] He previously served as the deputy commander of the United States Fleet Forces Command from 2021 to 2024.^[6][7][8]

James Kilby
Born	1963 (age 61–62)
Allegiance	United States
Branch	United States Navy
Years of service	1986–present
Rank	Admiral
Commands	Vice Chief of Naval Operations Carrier Strike Group 1 Naval Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Center USS Monterey USS Russell
Battles / wars	Gulf War
Awards	Navy Distinguished Service Medal Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit (4)
Alma mater	United States Naval Academy (BS)

Early life and education

Raised in Pound Ridge, New York, Kilby is a 1986 graduate of the United States Naval Academy.^[6]

Naval career

Kilby's sea tours include USS Sampson (DDG-10), USS Philippine Sea (CG 58) and two tours aboard USS San Jacinto (CG 56). He commanded USS Russell (DDG 59) where he received the Vice Adm. James B. Stockdale Award for inspirational leadership. His major command was aboard USS Monterey (CG 61) and included its maiden Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) deployment in 2011.^[6]

His shore tours include the Naval Postgraduate School; two tours in the Chief of Naval Operations' Surface Warfare Directorate, N96; Navy Personnel Command's Surface Warfare Division, PERS-41; and the Aegis BMD Program Office in the Missile Defense Agency.^[6]

Kilby's flag assignments include Commander, Naval Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Center; Commander, Carrier Strike Group 1; director of Warfare Integration, N9I; Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Warfighting Requirements and Capabilities, N9; Deputy Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command; and Commander, Task Force Eight Zero.^[6]

In July 2021, he was nominated to succeed David Kriete as deputy commander of the United States Fleet Forces Command.^[9][10] In July 2023, he was nominated for promotion to admiral and assignment as Vice Chief of Naval Operations.^[11]

Kilby assumed the duties of Vice Chief of Naval Operations on January 5, 2024.^[6] He became the acting Chief of Naval Operations on February 21, 2025, when President Donald Trump removed Admiral Lisa Franchetti from that post.^[3] Kilby has said that he will work towards achieving the goal of his predecessor to get 80% of the Navy's ships to be ready for a combat deployment at any moment.^[12]

In April 2025 he attended the Sea-Air-Space exposition hosted by the Navy League of the United States, where he met with the chief of staff of the Spanish Navy, in his capacity as the acting Chief of Naval Operations.^[13] At the exposition he also said that the Navy will work on developing a more cost-efficient way of countering drones, after its experience during the Red Sea crisis.^[12]

In May 2025, Kilby's tenure as acting Chief of Naval Operations became the longest time that the Navy did not have a leader confirmed by the Senate.^[14]