John B . Nathman John B . Nathman ( born April 11 , 1948 ) is a retired United States Navy admiral who served as the Commander , U . S . Fleet Forces Command until 17 May 2007 . Early career . A native of San Antonio , Texas , he graduated with distinction from the United States Naval Academy in 1970 . In 1972 , he qualified as a Naval Aviator , receiving the Naval Air Training Command ' s Outstanding Pilot Graduate Award while also completing a Master of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering . Nathman has served in a variety of sea , shore and joint assignments , and flown over 40 different types of aircraft during his career . At sea , he flew the F - 4 Phantom II with Fighter Squadron Two Thirteen ( VF - 213 ) and the F - 14 Tomcat with Fighter Squadron Fifty - One ( VF - 51 ) . He then transitioned to the F / A - 18 Hornet , subsequently commanding Strike Fighter Squadron One Thirty - Two ( VFA - 132 ) and leading his squadron in the first F / A - 18 combat sorties against Libya in 1986 . Nathman reported to the aircraft carrier USS " Nimitz " ( CVN - 68 ) in 1987 as Executive Officer , and subsequently assumed command of USS La Salle ( AGF - 3 ) , the flagship for Commander , Middle East Force ( COMIDEASTFOR ) , during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm . Nathman returned to the " Nimitz " as its Commanding Officer from 1992 - 1994 . Ashore , Nathman was assigned to the U . S . Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base , California , graduating with distinction in 1976 . He also served at the Navy Fighter Weapons School ( TOPGUN ) at Naval Air Station Miramar , California , and oversaw the advanced tactical training of the naval aviators and naval flight officers from the Navy and Marine Corps fighter communities attending TOPGUN . From 1982 to 1984 , Nathman was on an exchange assignment with the U . S . Air Force as the senior naval test pilot flying all project aircraft with the 4477th Test and Evaluation Squadron ( 4477 TES ) at Nellis Air Force Base , Nevada . During this time , he flew 61 missions in MiG - 21 s and 52 missions in MiG - 23 s as " Bandit 29 " . Flag officer . Upon his selection to flag rank in 1994 , Nathman served on the NATO staff of Commander , Allied Forces Southern Europe ( AF SOUTH ) , and as Director of Logistics for Commander , NATO Implementation Force ( IFOR ) during its first out - of - area deployment to Bosnia . In 1996 , he commanded Carrier Group Seven , NIMITZ Carrier Strike Group and Battle Force FIFTY in the Persian Gulf . Nathman subsequently served as Director , Air Warfare , on the Chief of Naval Operations staff in Washington , D . C . In August 2000 , he took command of Naval Air Force , U . S . Pacific Fleet and was designated Commander , Naval Air Forces in October 2001 . In August 2002 , Nathman was assigned as the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Warfare Requirements and Programs ( N6 / N7 ) at the Pentagon . Nathman served most recently as the 33rd Vice Chief of Naval Operations from August 2004 to February 2005 . He assumed command of U . S . Fleet Forces Command on February 18 , 2005 , and subsequently retired . Awards and decorations . His personal decorations include the Navy Distinguished Service Medal ( four awards ) , Defense Superior Service Medal , Legion of Merit ( four awards ) , Bronze Star with Combat V , Defense Meritorious Service Medal , Meritorious Service Medal ( three awards ) , Navy Commendation Medal with Combat V ( two awards ) and the Air Force Achievement Medal . Post - military . On 2 October 2008 , Nathman published a commentary in the " Virginian - Pilot " praising presidential candidate Barack Obama . In February 2012 , he was named a co - chair of the re - election campaign of President Obama . On 6 September 2012 , Natham spoke at the 2012 Democratic National Convention