By Guy Page

A St. Albans native has been named to command the surface ships of the U.S. Navy Pacific Fleet. 

According to a May 5 press release, Secretary of War Peter Hegseth announced that Navy Rear Adm. Joseph F. Cahill III has been nominated by President Donald Trump to the grade of vice admiral, with assignment as commander, Naval Surface Forces/commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, San Diego, California. Cahill is currently serving as commander, Naval Surface Force, Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia.

Cahill, son of St. Albans lawyer Joseph Cahill, is a 1992 graduate of the University of Maine.

Cahill joins a distinguished list of very senior naval officers with Franklin County connections:

The Perrys: Captain (ret.) Al Perry, a former House member from Franklin. Perry left his home state of Vermont in 1952 and rose to become a Navy Captain, commanding the USS Spadefish, a Nuclear attack Submarine.

His four sons would also become officers – two of them admirals (Doug and Scott). Three served on Navy Subs and one was a Navy Pilot. 

At the christening of the attack submarine USS Vermont, a statement by Gov. Phil Scott said that “altogether, the Perry family combined has over 120 years of naval service between them, including service on 17 submarines, 4 aircraft carriers, a cruiser and a destroyer. that Captain Perry now has three Grandsons serving in Active Duty, and one granddaughter-in-law.”

Admiral Warren Hamm – the St. Albans native served 41 years in the Navy (Commander U.S. Naval Forces Korea, Vice Commander of Military Sealift Command). He returned home to active volunteer public service, including the revival of the local historical society. At his going away party in 2021 pending moving to Virginia with his wife, Hamm closed his remarks by saying “If you see something that needs to get done, do it, because most likely, no one else will…”

Captain Steve Deal – Moving to Franklin County with his Vermont native wife after retirement, Deal served over 27 years on active duty in the U.S. Navy as a naval aviator, retiring at the rank of Captain (O-6). He commanded three operational units in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Washington State, earning the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, and multiple other awards. After retirement, he was named a member of the Senior Executive Service, serving as Deputy Chief of Staff to the Secretary of the Navy and Deputy Chief Learning Officer for the Department of the Navy.

Cahill’s sea tours were on USS Constellation (CV 64), USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62), USS Paul Hamilton (DDG 60) and USS Russell (DDG 59). He commanded USS Monsoon (PC 4) and USS Preble (DDG 88). His major command was on USS Bunker Hill (CG 52) where he served as the Integrated Air and Missile Warfare commander for CSG-9.

He previously served as Commander, Carrier Strike Group FIFTEEN in June 2022.

He assumed his role as Commander, Naval Surface Force Atlantic on June 2, 2023.

His shore tours included the Joint Staff, INDOPACOM, three tours on the Chief of Naval Operations’ staff with roles in Strategy & Policy (N5SP) and Warfighting Requirements and Capabilities (N9), the Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Center and the Naval War College, and deputy director for Resources and Acquisitions, Joint Staff, J8.

Vermont’s naval tradition of senior admirals include late 19th century – early 20th century officers William Simms, Henry Mayo and George Dewey, the Hero of Manila Bay in the Spanish American War.