Carlisle Trost

Carlisle Albert Herman Trost (April 24, 1930 – September 29, 2020) was a United States Navy officer who served as the 23rd Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) and a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from July 1, 1986, to June 29, 1990. He oversaw the Navy during the end of the Cold War. He retired from active naval service on July 1, 1990, following completion of a four-year term as CNO.

Early life and education

Trost was born in Valmeyer, Illinois, on April 24, 1930. Trost graduated first in his United States Naval Academy class of 1953 and was commissioned as an ensign.

Career

Trost volunteered and was accepted to begin submarine training in 1954 and once again graduated first in his class from Submarine School in New London, Connecticut. During his more than thirty-seven years of commissioned service, Trost served at sea in destroyers and diesel-powered and nuclear submarines, including tours as executive officer of two nuclear-powered submarines and as commanding officer of a Fleet Ballistic Missile submarine.

After selection to flag rank in 1973, Trost commanded Submarine Flotilla One/Submarine Group FIVE. Later operational assignments included deputy commander, United States Pacific Fleet; commander, Seventh Fleet (1980–1981);<ref name=7thFleet>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Commander-in-Chief, United States Atlantic Fleet (1985–1986),<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and deputy commander, United States Atlantic Command.

Trost served as military assistant to the Deputy Secretary of Defense, executive assistant to the Secretary of the Navy, and on the Navy Staff as Director, Systems Analysis Division, Assistant Chief of Naval Personnel and Director, Navy Program Planning.

In May 1986, Trost was nominated by President Ronald Reagan to succeed Admiral James D. Watkins as Chief of Naval Operations (CNO).<ref name=Gordon>Gordon, New York Times, May 1986.</ref><ref name=Halloran>Halloran, New York Times, May 1986.</ref> Trost served as CNO from July 1, 1986, to June 29, 1990.<ref name=CNO_NHC>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He was succeeded by Admiral Frank B. Kelso.

Awards and decorations

File:Submarine Officer badge.jpg Officer Submarine Warfare insignia

File:Silver Deterrent Patrol badge.jpgFile:Award star (gold).png Silver SSBN Deterrent Patrol insignia with one gold star

File:Joint Chiefs of Staff seal.svg Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge

Template:Ribbon devices Defense Distinguished Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster

Template:Ribbon devicesFile:Award star (gold).pngFile:Award star (gold).png Navy Distinguished Service Medal with two gold award stars

File:Distinguished Service Medal ribbon.svg Army Distinguished Service Medal

File:Air Force Distinguished Service ribbon.svg Air Force Distinguished Service Medal

Template:Ribbon devicesFile:Award star (gold).pngFile:Award star (gold).png Legion of Merit with two award stars

File:Navy and Marine Corps Achievement ribbon.svg Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal

Template:Ribbon devices Navy Unit Commendation

Template:Ribbon devices Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation

Template:Ribbon devices Navy Expeditionary Medal

Template:Ribbon devices Navy Occupation Service Medal

Template:Ribbon devices National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star

Template:Ribbon devices Antarctica Service Medal

Template:Ribbon devices Humanitarian Service Medal

Template:Ribbon devices Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon

File:Gugseon Security Medal Ribbon.png Order of National Security Merit Gukseon Medal, 2nd Class (Republic of Korea)

File:JPN Kyokujitsu-sho 1Class BAR.svg Order of the Rising Sun Grand Cordon (Japan)

File:Order of the Cloud and Banner 2nd.gif Order of the Cloud and Banner with Grand Cordon, 2nd Grade (Republic of China)

Template:Ribbon devices Order of Naval Merit, Grand Officer (Brazil)

Template:Ribbon devices Unidentified

Template:Ribbon devices Royal Norwegian Order of Merit, Commander with Star

Trost was an Olmsted Scholar.<ref name="olmstead">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He was active in the Boy Scouts of America as an adult, an Eagle Scout and recipient of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=Hopkins>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Organizational affiliations

Trost was recognized as a distinguished graduate of the United States Naval Academy and also served on the board of directors of the Alumni Association, as well as President of the Class of '53. A classmate and another past President of the Class of '53 was the late Texas businessman and former presidential candidate H. Ross Perot.

Post-naval career

Since his retirement from the Navy, Trost served on the boards of directors of a number of corporations. He served as Chairman of the Board of the United States Naval Academy Alumni Association in a term that ended in Spring 2009.<ref name=USNC_Board/> Trost died on September 29, 2020, at the age of 90.<ref>Adm. Carlisle A. H. Trost, 23rd Chief of Naval Operations, Passes Away</ref>

References

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External links

• Biography of Trost from Shipmate (Spring 2003 issue), the magazine of the U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association and Foundation.
• Carlisle Trost's obituary Template:Webarchive
• Template:Findagrave