Stearney, Scott Andrew
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Verified Vice Admiral Scott Andrew Stearney, 58, of Chicago, Illinois, was a U.S. Navy officer serving as commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command. He was found dead in his residence in Hamala, Bahrain, on December 1, 2018.
Their Story
Vice Admiral Scott Andrew Stearney was a career naval aviator and senior commander from Chicago, Illinois. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1982 and was commissioned through the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps, later serving as a fighter pilot and holding numerous command and staff positions, including as commander of Carrier Air Wing Eight and Carrier Strike Group 4. In May 2018, he assumed command of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT), U.S. Fifth Fleet, and Combined Maritime Forces, headquartered in Bahrain.
On December 1, 2018, Stearney was found deceased in his residence in Hamala, Bahrain. The U.S. Navy stated there was no indication of foul play. The Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) and the Bahraini Ministry of Interior launched an investigation. The official cause of death was later determined to be suicide.
Stearney's death occurred during Operation Inherent Resolve, the U.S.-led coalition campaign against the Islamic State (ISIS) in Iraq and Syria, which began in August 2014. As NAVCENT commander, he oversaw naval operations across a critical region including the Persian Gulf, Red Sea, and Arabian Sea, supporting the air campaign and maritime security missions.
Following his death, the Navy appointed Vice Admiral James Malloy as his successor. The Department of Defense and Navy officials, including then-Chief of Naval Operations Admiral John Richardson, issued statements mourning his loss and highlighting his decades of service. He was posthumously awarded the Legion of Merit.
Stearney was remembered by colleagues as a dedicated and respected leader. His death was one of 107 American service member fatalities recorded in Operation Inherent Resolve as of late 2018, according to Defense Department casualty reports.
Explore Further
Scott Stearney was killed during Operation Inherent Resolve (ongoing since August 2014). See the full roster of those killed in this conflict.
Among those documented in the same conflict: Villotcarrasco, Yeshabel, Spears, Jordan Lee, Walker, Jonathan Doyle, Neal, Sean Patrick.
