Naval History and Heritage Command

Finding aid (PDF)

Biographical Note

Vice Admiral John A. Baldwin, Jr., a native of Baltimore, Maryland, graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1955. After being commissioned an Ensign, he had duty on destroyers USS Dennis J. Buckley and Gainard, as well as the Naval Small Craft Facility at Annapolis, Maryland, and Coronado Naval Amphibious School. He commanded USS Marysville from 1960 to 1962. From 1962 to 1964, he was assigned to the NROTC unit at the University of Washington and while there did postgraduate studies in oceanography before being transferred to the Naval Oceanographic Office in March 1964.

Over the following seven years Baldwin returned to destroyer duty, serving as executive office of USS Johnston and commanding officer of John R. Perry and Meyerkord. During this time he also had a two-year tour in the Office of the Oceanographer of the Navy.

Beginning in 1971, Baldwin served in a variety of shore assignments. After a brief assignment to Mare Island Inshore Operations Training Center, he became Senior Advisor Military Region II with U.S. Naval Forces Vietnam. In January 1973, he joined the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations as Head, Surface Warfare Analysis and Head, Sea Control Branch. After more than two years with CNO, he became Commander Destroyer Division 33, remaining there until August 1977.

Following his tour with Destroyer Division 33, Baldwin returned to Washington, D.C., serving in the Office of the Secretary of the Navy. He subsequently joined the staff of the Secretary of Defense as Military Assistant to the Deputy Secretary. Following this, from 1981-1982, he served as Director of the Systems Analysis Division in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations.

From 1982 to 1986, Baldwin served in the Pacific. His first assignment was as Commander Cruiser-Destroyer Group 3 and commander of the USS Kitty Hawk Battle Group during a deployment to the western Pacific and Indian Oceans. In October 1984, he reported to the Commander in Chief Pacific Fleet as Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans.

From 1986 to 1987, Baldwin served as President of the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island, overseeing senior education and war-gaming for the Navy. He next served as Director of the Strategic Plans and Policy Division (J-5) on the Joint Staff, responsible to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for the strategic direction of the armed forces.

Baldwin’s last assignment was as President of the National Defense University, where for three years he was responsible for senior education for the Departments of Defense and State. The University, comprised of four colleges, including the National War College and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, and two specialized institutes, including the Institute for National Strategic Studies, increased its faculty by over 25% while reducing staff by 15% during his tenure. Additionally, he gained approval from the Departments of Defense and Education to seek accreditation to award Master’s degrees.

Vice Admiral Baldwin retired from active duty in October 1992 after 37 years as a naval officer.

Scope and Content Note

This collection contains materials relating to Vice Admiral John A. Baldwin’s later career. It is organized in two series. Series I, Correspondence, relates chiefly to Baldwin’s tenure as Commander in Chief Pacific Fleet Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Operations and later duty as President of the Naval War College. This series includes both incoming and outgoing correspondence, and is arranged chronologically.

Series II, Reports, contains reports, studies, and documents on strategic planning and policy topics. These materials date largely from Admiral Baldwin’s duties in the Office of the Secretary of the Navy as Deputy Director of the Office of Program Appraisal. Scattered reports from other periods of his service are included as well. This series is arranged alphabetically by title.

Preferred Citation

This collection should be cited as Papers of Vice Admiral John A. Baldwin, Archives Branch, Naval History and Heritage Command, Washington, D.C.

Subject Headings (LCSH)

Sea Power--United States.
Military Planning--United States.
Naval War College (U.S.)
United States. Navy. Pacific Fleet.
Admirals--United States--Archives.
Admirals--United States--Correspondence.