Charles R. Larson: U.S. Navy Four-Star Admiral and Naval Academy Superintendent

Charles R. Larson (1936–2014), U.S. Navy four‑star admiral who led U.S. Pacific Command and twice served as Superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy, recognized for senior naval leadership and contributions to naval education.

Charles Robert Larson (November 20, 1936 – July 26, 2014) was an American four‑star admiral who served in the United States Navy. He held several senior commands during a long naval career and is best known for leadership roles in naval education and in the Pacific theater.

Education and career highlights

Larson graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1958. Over the course of his career he returned to the Academy in a leadership capacity, serving twice as Superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy. He also served as Commander in Chief, United States Pacific Command (CINCPAC), one of the U.S. military's unified combatant commands.

Later life and death

Larson lived in Annapolis, Maryland, where he died at home on July 26, 2014, after a two‑year illness with leukemia. He was 77 years old.