David E . Jeremiah David Elmer Jeremiah , ( February 25 , 1934 – October 7 , 2013 ) was a United States Navy Admiral , who served as Vice Chairman and also Acting Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff . After his retirement from the Navy in February 1994 , he worked in the field of investment banking . He served as partner and president of Technology Strategies & Alliances Corporation , a strategic advisory and investment banking firm engaged primarily in the aerospace , defense , telecommunications , and electronics industries . During his military career Jeremiah earned a reputation as an authority on strategic planning , financial management and the policy implications of advanced technology . Naval career . Jeremiah served four years as Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for General s Colin L . Powell and John M . Shalikashvili . He was a key player for both Chairmen in the transition to a post - Cold War military . Jeremiah was also the Commander in Chief of the United States Pacific Fleet from 1987 to 1991 . He commanded a task force , battle group and destroyer squadron in earlier tours in the Mediterranean . In October 1985 he directed the attempt to capture the hijackers of the " MS Achille Lauro " and in April 1986 led combat operations against Libya in the Gulf of Sidra . He served as commanding officer of the USS Preble ( DDG - 46 ) from 1974 - 1976 . Ashore , Jeremiah served as Director , Navy Program Planning and in financial planning positions on the staffs of the Secretary of Defense and Chief of Naval Operations . Decorations . Jeremiah received numerous U . S . and foreign decorations and awards , including the Presidential Citizens Medal presented by George H . W . Bush for the Gulf War ; the Defense Distinguished Service Medal ; five Navy Distinguished Service Medal s ; Army , Air Force , and Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medals ; Legion of Merit with gold star ; two Meritorious Service Medals , the Navy Achievement Medal with Valor device ; the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun ( Japan ) ; Kingdom of Thailand Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand ; the Republic of Korea Order of National Security Merit ( Tongil and Samil ) Medal ; the Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm . Jeremiah was also appointed an Honorary Officer of the Order of Australia ( Military Division ) , the first foreign appointment to the order ' s Military Division , and he received the University of Oregon Pioneer Award for Distinguished Graduates . Organizational affiliations . Jeremiah was Chairman of the Board of Directors of Wackenhut Services , Inc . and served on the Boards of Directors for Geobiotics , LLC , Todd Shipyards Corporation , ManTech International Corporation and the Board of Trustees for MITRE Corporation and In - Q - Tel and advisory boards for Northrop Grumman Corporation and the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs . In addition to his corporate responsibilities , Jeremiah served as a member of the President ' s Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board , the George Bush Presidential Library Advisory Council and a National Reconnaissance Office Advisory Panel . Education . Jeremiah earned a bachelor ' s degree in Business Administration from the University of Oregon and a Master ' s Degree in Financial Management from George Washington University . He completed the Program for Management Development at Harvard University . Death . He died in 2013 , aged 79 .