Donald L . Pilling Donald Lee Pilling ( June 4 , 1943 – May 26 , 2008 ) was a retired four - star United States Navy admiral who served as Vice Chief of Naval Operations from 1997 to 2000 . Military career . A 1965 graduate of the United States Naval Academy , Pilling ' s sea experience concerned destroyers . He commanded USS Dahlgren ( DDG - 43 ) , was Commander of Destroyer Squadron 26 , Commander , Cruiser Group 12 , Commander , Saratoga Battle Group , Commander , United States Sixth Fleet and Commander , Naval Striking and Support Forces Southern Europe . Ashore , Admiral Pilling was assigned to a variety of defense resources and planning billets . From 1973 to 1977 , he served in the Office of the Secretary of Defense ( PA & E ) where he was responsible for the resource analysis of all U . S . and foreign tactical aircraft and missile programs . From 1980 to 1983 he was on the personal staff of the Chief of Naval Operations , responsible for monitoring trends in the international environment and their implications for future naval forces . As a Federal Executive Fellow at the Brookings Institution ( 1985 – 1986 ) , he studied defense acquisition and national security issues . From 1986 to 1988 , Admiral Pilling was assigned to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations where he was responsible for the development of the Navy Five - Year Defense Plan ( FYDP ) . A member of the National Security Council staff from 1989 until July 1992 , Pilling had broad responsibilities in foreign policy and national security issues . From 1993 to 1995 , he was the Director for Programming ( N80 ) on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations and served as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations , Resources , Warfare Requirements and Assessments ( N8 ) from July 1996 to November 1997 . He assumed duties as the 30th Vice Chief of Naval Operations in November 1997 . Pilling was awarded a Ph . D . in mathematics from the University of Cambridge in 1970 , with a dissertation titled " The Algebra of Operators for Regular Events " . He has published articles in both mathematical and professional journals and is also the author of a monograph , " Competition in Defense Procurement " , published in 1989 by the Brookings Institution . Decorations . His awards and decorations included the Defense Distinguished Service Medal ( two awards ) , Navy Distinguished Service Medal , Legion of Merit ( five awards ) , Meritorious Service Medal , Navy Commendation Medal ( three awards ) , and the Navy Achievement Medal . Post military . On January 1 , 2002 , Pilling became President and Chief Executive Officer Logistics Management Institute , a government consulting firm . He was also a member of the Defense Science Board , the Council on Foreign Relations , and the White House Fellows Commission . He was on the Board of Trustees / Advisors at the Naval War College , the Applied Physics Laboratory of the Johns Hopkins University , and the National Defense Industrial Association . He was also a Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration . Admiral Pilling lived in Bayside , New York , and was married to Barbara Pilling ( née Orbon ) . Donald Pilling died from leukemia on May 26 , 2008 . Funeral services took place on May 30 , 2008 , at the U . S . Naval Academy , Annapolis , Maryland .