ADM Philip Davidson, USN (Ret.)
Admiral Philip Davidson, USN (Ret.)
The 2024 awardee for Distinguished Sea Services Award Senior Officer is Admiral Philip S. Davidson, USN (Ret.).
ADM Davidson last served as the 25th commander of United States Indo-Pacific Command from 30 May 2018 to 30 April 2021. He previously served as the commander of United States Fleet Forces Command and United States Naval Forces Northern Command from 2014 to 2018. Davidson is from St. Louis, Missouri, and is a 1982 graduate of the United States Naval Academy. He retired from the U.S. Navy effective 1 May 2021.
A surface warfare officer, Davidson deployed across the globe in frigates, destroyers, cruisers, and aircraft carriers. Davidson's previous sea command assignments include Carrier Strike Group 8 (Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group), USS Gettysburg, and USS Taylor. He also served as the three-star commander of United States Sixth Fleet and the commander of Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO, while simultaneously serving as the deputy commander of United States Naval Forces Europe – Naval Forces Africa.
Ashore, ADM Davidson served in fleet, interagency, and joint tours as a flag officer, including as the director of maritime operations at United States Fleet Forces Command, as the senior military advisor to the special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan (SRAP) at the State Department, and as the deputy director for strategy and policy in the J-5 directorate of the Joint Staff. He served earlier in his career in policy, strategy, and operations billets on multiple tours with the U.S. Pacific Fleet staff, the Navy staff, and the Joint Staff, and as the Navy’s military aide to the Vice President of the United States.
Davidson is a distinguished graduate of the United States Naval War College. He has a Master of Arts in national security and strategic studies and a Bachelor of Science in physics.
ADM Davidson’s awards include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal with Combat “V”, the Combat Action Ribbon, and numerous other personal, unit, and campaign awards.