Distinguished Submariner Award
This award recognizes the personal contributions of submarine qualified individuals, officer or enlisted. It is to be made to the most deserving individuals when considering the awardee's lifetime achievements. The contributions may have been during distinguished service in positions of responsibility in the fleet, or, following naval service, the awardee made contributions of extraordinary value to the success of the submarine force, the Navy, or the nation.
Anyone may nominate someone for this award. Nominations may be submitted by email to execdirector@navalsubleague.org and should provide a description (no more than a one-page attachment) of how the person meets the criteria above.
2024 Awardee: President James E. Carter, Jr.
for Lifetime Contributions to the Nation
President Carter qualified in submarines on USS POMFRET (SS 391) in 1949. He also served on USS BARRACUDA (SSK-1) before he was selected by Captain Rickover as one of the first officers for the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program. He served as the senior officer for the SEAWOLF project at Schenectady, NY. With the death of his father in 1953, President Carter resigned from the Navy and returned to Georgia to manage the family farm. In 1962, President Carter decided to run for state senator because of his concerns over public education policy and served two terms. In 1970, he was elected to be the governor of Georgia. Admiral Rickover’s initial interview with President Carter inspired the title of his campaign biography, “Why Not the Best?”. In 1976, he was nominated and elected to be the 39th President of the United States, serving from 1977 to 1981. In 1982, President and Mrs. Carter founded The Carter Center, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of people around the world. In 2002, President Carter was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. A supporter of democracies around the world, author of multiple books, participant in Habitat for Humanity projects for years, Sunday school teacher for decades, and articulate spokesman for his principles, President Carter has led a life of inspiration.
President Carter is most deserving of recognition by the Naval Submarine League to receive the 2024 Distinguished Submariner Award.
2024 Awardee: ADM Thomas B. Fargo, USN (Ret)
For Lifetime Contributions to the Nation
Admiral Fargo served the Navy and the Defense Department with great distinction for 35 years. In the submarine force he served on five submarines, including command of USS Salt Lake City (SSN 716). As Commanding Officer, he was awarded the Vice Admiral James Bond Stockdale Award for Inspirational Leadership. After the submarine force ADM Fargo rose to command of the U. S. Fifth Fleet and Naval Forces of the Central Command during two years of Iraqi contingency operations from July 1996 to July 1998. ADM Fargo then served as Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Pacific Fleet from October 1999 to May 2002. Admiral Fargo completed his military career as the Commander of the U.S. Pacific Command. Admiral Fargo transitioned to corporate leadership in March 2005, as President of Trex Enterprises, a privately held high technology company. In April 2008, he became a Managing Director of J.F. Lehman and Co, with principal responsibilities as President and CEO of HSF Holdings/Hawaii Superferry. He held the John M. Shalikashvili Chair in National Security Studies at the National Bureau of Asian Research from 2009 to 2016. Admiral Fargo became the Chairman of Hawaiian Electric Industries in May 2020. He previously served for nine years as the Chairman of Huntington Ingalls Industries and Chairman of USAA until August 2021.
It is most appropriate that his dedicated service and support for the country is recognized by the Naval Submarine League as a Distinguished Submariner for 2024.
2024 Awardee: RADM David R. Oliver, Jr., USN (Ret)
For Lifetime Contributions to the Nation
Rear Admiral Oliver has served the nation in multiple roles. In the Navy he rose to flag rank after serving on five submarines and staff assignments, including Commander Submarine Group Seven, Chief of Staff Seventh Fleet, Director of Navy Operation and Plans, and Commander Submarine Group Five. On his final Navy tours in the Pentagon, he was responsible for administering the Navy Program budget and served as the Principal Deputy, Acquisition, Research and Logistics. After retiring in 1995, he worked as an executive at Westinghouse and Northrop Grumman. In 1997, Rear Admiral Oliver was appointed by President Clinton as Principal Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics. Subsequently, he left government, but in 2005, President Bush appointed him as the Director of Management and Budget for the Coalition Forces in Iraq. While in Iraq, he also served as the special advisor for the Iraqi Finance Minister. When he returned from Iraq, Rear Admiral Oliver worked as an executive at Airbus. He is one of the founding members of the American College of National Security Leaders. His public service awards include the Bronze Palm (2nd award) to the Department of Defense Award for Distinguished Public Service, as well as Army and Navy Public Service Awards. He has written several books on leadership and management, including a book on Admiral Rickover’s leadership principles and the rise of the nuclear navy.
Rear Admiral Oliver is most deserving of recognition by the Naval Submarine League to receive the 2024 Distinguished Submariner Award.
2024 Awardee: ADM Harry D. Train, II, USN (Ret)
For Lifetime Contributions to the Nation
Admiral Train served the Navy and his country with great distinction for over 37 years. Before entering the submarine service, he served on destroyers USS ELLISON (DD 864) and USS HUBBARD (DD 748). His submarine service included USS WAHOO (SS 565) and as Executive Officer on USS ENTEMEDOR (SS 340). He served as Commanding Officer on USS BARBEL (SS 580) and commanded USS CONYNGHAM (DDG 17). He served as Commander Cruiser-Destroyer Flotilla Eight before being assigned as Commander of the U.S. Sixth Fleet. His principal staff duties included Executive Assistant to the Chief of Naval Operations, Executive Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Director of the Joint Staff. As a four-star admiral, he served as Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet and as Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic before retiring from naval service in 1982. After retirement, Admiral Train was a Manager in SAIC and was deeply involved in civic affairs. He was a senior fellow in the Joint Advanced Warfighting School and a member of the U.S. Commission on National Security/21st Century.
Admiral Train is most deserving of recognition by the Naval Submarine League to receive the 2024 Distinguished Submariner Award.
Previous Winners
2023
ADM Edmund P. Giambastiani, USN (Ret)
VADM Paul E. Sullivan, USN (Ret)
2022
Martin Cooper
2021
ADM Richard W. Mies, USN (Ret)
ADM Frank L. "Skip" Bowman, USN (Ret)
2020
ADM Archie R. Clemins, USN (Ret)
VADM Ronald M. Eytchison, USN (Ret)
2019
VADM George W. Emery, USN (Ret)
2018
ADM Hank Chiles, USN (Ret)
RADM Jerry Holland, USN (Ret)