Allegiance United States Rank Rear admiral | Name Paul Gillcrist Years of service 1952–1985 | |
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Commands held Fighter Airborne Early Warning Wings of the U.S. Pacific Fleet Books Feet Wet: Reflections of a Carri, An Nasher: The Asp, Crusader!: Last of the Gunfighters, Vulture's row, Deadly Windfall | ||
Paul Thomas Gillcrist (March 22, 1929 – June 30, 2016) was a rear admiral in the United States Navy. After retirement from the Navy, he wrote non-fiction and fiction books and was a consultant for television.
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Career
He was a former Assistant Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Air Warfare, a position he served from 1982 to 1985. Previously, he served as Commander, Naval Base San Diego, Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations for the Commander in Chief of the Atlantic Command, Commander of Carrier Air Wing THREE, Commanding Officer of Naval Air Station Cecil Field, and as Commander of Fighter Airborne Early Warning Wings of the U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMFITAEWWING). He is an alumnus of Gonzaga University and the United States Naval Academy.
He wrote novels as well as books on aviation and naval science topics.
Following his retirement, he became a technical consultant for the movie Thirteen Days and the television show JAG. He died on June 30, 2016.
Awards
His awards include the Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, Air Medal (13), and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross. In 1985, he was named Tailhook Aviator of the Year by the Tailhook Association.