ASU Alumnus Becomes Two-Star Admiral

U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Eric Coy Young, an Angelo State University alumnus, recently received his second star and assumed command of the Navy Reserve Forces Command (NRFC) in Norfolk, Va., the highest office that a full-time support reserve sailor can achieve in the Navy.

Young, a native of Abilene, earned his ASU Bachelor of Science in chemistry in 1984. He received his commission as an ensign from Officer Candidate School in February 1985. He also holds a Master of Science in financial management from the Naval Postgraduate School and a Master of Arts in national security and strategic studies from the Naval War College in Newport, R.I.

Deputy chief of Navy Reserve since 2012, Young took command of NRFC after Rear Adm. Bryan Cutchen retired during a change of command and retirement ceremony Sept. 25 at the Joint Forces Staff College in Norfolk.

Young served a number of tours at sea as a surface warfare officer, including aboard the guided-missile frigate USS Reid, the combat stores ship USS San Jose, the guided-missile frigate USS Wadsworth and the guided-missile frigate USS Ford. He served as commanding officer of the guided-missile frigate USS John L. Hall and was commander of Destroyer Squadron 1.

His staff and shore assignments included commanding officer, Naval Reserve Center, Terre Haute, Ind.; commanding officer, Naval Reserve Center, Danville, Ill.; manpower analyst in the Surface Warfare Directorate, Chief of Naval Operations; manpower and personnel director, Naval Reserve Readiness Command South; commanding officer, Navy Operational Support Center, San Diego, Calif.; and deputy director, Training Transformation and Technology in the Office of the Secretary of Defense (Reserve Affairs).

Young’s decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and various unit and campaign awards.

As the eighth commander of the Navy Reserve Forces Command in Norfolk, Young will oversee the mobilization of 4,000 Navy Reserve sailors annually to support operations overseas. Since Sept. 11, 2001, nearly 72,300 Navy Reserve sailors have mobilized in support of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as other operations internationally.

More information on the U.S. Navy Reserve is available at www.navyreserve.navy.mil.