Admiral James R. Hogg

’56, USN (RET.)

The son of Rear Admiral James H. Hogg ’27, USN (Ret.), and his wife Mary Jane, Admiral James R. Hogg ’56, USN (Ret.), never questioned his desire to attend the Naval Academy or spend his life in service to the Navy. That conviction set the foundation for a 57-year career in active duty and civilian service.

Following graduation from the Academy, Admiral Hogg began his career at sea, completing 14 overseas deployments including three in the Vietnam War zone. His five command tours included the guided missile frigate ENGLAND, Destroyer Squadron 31, Destroyer Squadron 7, Cruiser Destroyer Group one/Task Force 75 and the Seventh Fleet, during which he established a more effective system for maintaining the location of Soviet submarines and turned back several Soviet incursions.

His shore service was no less distinguished, beginning with his selection as executive assistant to the Chief of Naval Personnel and continuing with his time as Director of Navy Military Personnel Policy. In this role, Admiral Hogg combatted severe morale and retention challenges by paving the way for significant increases in compensation, housing allowances, bonuses, and other benefits. Later, as Director of Naval Warfare, Admiral Hogg helped ensure the Navy’s continued warfighting capabilities as funding declined with the end of the Cold War. For his efforts and achievements, Admiral Hogg received his fourth star and final active duty assignment as U.S. Representative to the NATo Military Committee, from which he retired in 1991.

After four years as president of the National Security Industrial Association, Admiral Hogg returned to the Navy as a civilian as director of the Chief of Naval operations’ Strategic Studies Group (SSG) in Newport, RI. Admiral Hogg transformed SSG from the study of maritime strategy to the generation of revolutionary, actionable concepts to lead the Navy into the future by capitalizing on innovation and technology. During his 18-year tenure, SSG provided five CNos with key strategies to ensure the Navy’s rapid advances in critical areas including all-electric ships, unmanned systems, and cyber warfare.

Admiral Hogg stepped down from SSG in 2014. Still active, he offers outreach services to the Naval War College through its foundation, conducts leadership workshops at Northeastern University and serves as chairman of the Board of Directors of the Surface Navy Association. The recently dedicated Future Forces Gallery at the Naval War College and the Rail Gun Firing Line Facility at Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division both bear his name.

Admiral Hogg has continued to give back to the Academy through his service as a member of the Curriculum 21 Review Committee, an early advisor in cybersecurity studies, New England Alumni Chapter president, Naval Academy Alumni Association Trustee and a Trustee of the Naval Academy Foundation’s Athletic and Scholarship Programs division. He and his wife, Anne, make their home in Portsmouth, RI, and have four grown children.