Adm. John C. Harvey is a native of Baltimore, Maryland and a graduate of the Phillips Exeter Academy, the U.S. Naval Academy and the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.

During his 39 year Navy career, Harvey specialized in naval nuclear propulsion, surface ship and Carrier strike-group operations and Navy-wide manpower management/personnel policy development. He served in a variety of operational command positions at sea, as the Navy’s Chief of Naval Personnel (the senior uniformed human resources official in the Navy) and as director, Navy Staff immediately prior to commanding U.S. Fleet Forces.

He retired from the U.S. Navy in November, 2012 after serving as commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, Norfolk, Virginia.

Since his retirement, Harvey has joined the Board of Directors of the Navy Memorial Foundation, where he currently serves as the chairman of the Board, and serves as an outside director of AT Kearney, PSDS.

On 12 January, 2014, Harvey was sworn in as a member of Governor Terry McAuliffe’s cabinet where he served as the Commonwealth’s Secretary of Veteran and Defense Affairs until 31 August, 2017.

Harvey joined the Institute of Defense Analyses as director, Strategy, Forces and Resources Division on 2 October, 2017.

Last Updated: 5 May 2022