Scott Fry Vice Admiral Scott Allen Fry ( born Bellefonte , Pennsylvania ) , is a former Director of the Joint Staff for the United States Department of Defense , who previously served as Commander , Sixth Fleet . Before selection to Flag rank , he served as the Executive Assistant to the Chief of Naval Operations , and tours as division officer , department head , and executive officer aboard the , and , and on the staff of Commander Destroyer Squadron 4 . Naval career . Fry attended public schools in Dallas , Pennsylvania , and entered the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis , Maryland , in 1967 . Upon graduation , Fry was commissioned as a Naval Officer in June 1971 . His initial assignment , beginning July 1971 , was aboard the as Communications Officer , where he served until September 1973 . He next served as Executive Officer aboard the , homeported in Naples , Italy , from January 1974 to December 1975 . After additional training , he served as Operations Officer aboard the from October 1976 , until August 1978 . From August 1978 , to March 1980 , he served on the Staff of Commander , Destroyer Squadron Four in Charleston , South Carolina . From March , 1980 , to March , 1983 , Fry was assigned to the Bureau of Naval Personnel , serving as Cruiser / Destroyer Atlantic Fleet Placement Officer and Assistant Surface Captain Detailer . From August 1983 , until July 1985 he returned to serve aboard the " McCloy " as Commanding Officer . From August , 1985 , to May 1986 , he served as the Third Battalion Officer , stationed at the United States Naval Academy , in Annapolis , Maryland , then served as Executive Assistant to the Superintendent of the Academy , until September , 1988 . From October 7 , 1988 until November 2 , 1990 , Fry was the Commander on board the , after which he served as an Executive Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of the Navy in Washington , D . C . until June , 1992 . From July , 1992 , through September , 1993 , he was the Commander of Destroyer Squadron 32 . By October 1993 , Fry returned to Naples , becoming the Executive Assistant to the Commander in Chief , U . S . Naval Forces Europe / Allied Forces Southern Europe . Flag rank . In April , 1994 , he returned to Washington , D . C . , as Executive Assistant to the Chief of Naval Operations . From June , 1995 to July , 1997 , he served as Deputy Director for Strategy and Policy , as a Joint Staff Officer . In August , 1997 , Vice Admiral Fry returned to sea as Commander of Cruiser - Destroyer Group 8 , Battle Group , leading a Mediterranean / Persian Gulf deployment from June 1998 until that November , when he became Director for Operations , Joint Staff . Fry ' s final assignment , as Commander Naval Striking and Support Forces Southern Europe , began in October , 2001 , shortly after the September 11 , 2001 attacks . He retired from active duty in 2003 . He is married , and he and his wife have three daughters and two grandsons . Recognition . Fry ' s military awards include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal , Defense Superior Service Medal , Legion of Merit ( five awards ) , Meritorious Service Medal ( three awards ) , and the Navy Commendation Medal .