Commander, Expeditionary Strike Group THREE
Commander (July 2009 - July 2011) 
Rear Admiral Earl L. Gay
Commander (July 2009 - July 2011)

Rear Admiral Earl L. Gay is a native of Atlanta, Ga., and 1980 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy. He completed flight training at Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola in 1981. He earned his master’s degree in Financial Management from Troy State University; he is also a 1995 graduate of the U.S. Air War College. Additionally, he attended the Joint Forces Staff College in 2005. RDML Gay’s sea assignments included deployments aboard the USS Fletcher (DD 992), USS Cook (FF 1083), USS David R. Ray (DD 971) and USS Crommelin (FFG 43). He commanded the HSL-43 BattleCats, deploying the Navy’s first Armed Helo/Hellfire missile detachments. He also served as air boss, USS Boxer (LHD 4), deploying with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) in 1999.

Assignments ashore include search and rescue pilot in the High Sierra Mountains at NAS Fallon, Nev., instructor pilot in the SH-60B aircraft at HSL-41, joint plans officer at U.S. Forces Command and U.S. Atlantic Command and commanding officer of HSL-41, training squadron for all west coast SH-60B pilots and aircrewmen.

RDML Gay commanded the USS Belleau Wood (LHA 3) from March 2003 until November 2004, deploying with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Following this tour, RDML Gay was assigned as the Navy’s director of congressional liaison, U.S. House of Representatives.

RDML Gay served as the 86th commandant of Naval District Washington and deputy commander, Joint Force Headquarters, National Capital Region.

RDML Gay assumed duties as deputy chairman, Armed Forces Inauguration Committee, Washington, in July 2008.

RDML Gay is honored to have served with numerous operational units that have been awarded the Battle Efficiency “E” .

 NEWS
COMPTUEX is a joint combined exercise conducted off the coast of Southern California.
COMPTUEX is a joint combined exercise conducted off the coast of Southern California.
COMPTUEX is a joint combined exercise conducted off the coast of Southern California.

 Served with...
CAPT Mark E. Cedrun

Start Date: February 2010
End Date: February 2012
CMDCM(SW/AW/FMF) Michael J. Smith

Start Date: July 2010
End Date: July 2011
Colonel Scott T. Carhart

Start Date: January 2011
End Date: November 2011
US Navy Recruiting | No Fear Act | FOIA | USA.gov | US Navy | US Marine Corps | Navy Reserves | Individual Augmentee | Veterans Crisis Line This is an official United States Navy Website. This US Government system is subject to monitoring. Please read our Privacy Policy notice.

The appearance of external hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by the United States Department of Defense, or the United States Department of the Navy of the linked web sites, or the information, products or services contained therein. For other than authorized activities such as military exchanges and Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) sites, the United States Department of Defense, the Department of the Navy  does not exercise any editorial control over the information you may find at these locations. Such links are provided consistent with the stated purpose of this DoD web site.
Share