| James A. Aiken Jr. | |
| Nickname: | 'lil Jimmy |
| Allegiance: | United States |
| Branch: | United States Navy |
| Serviceyears: | 19892024 |
| Rank: | Rear Admiral |
| Commands: | U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command United States Fourth Fleet Carrier Strike Group 3 Destroyer Squadron 60 |
| Awards: | Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit (4) |
| Alma Mater: | Pennsylvania State University (BS) United States Naval War College (MSS) |
James A. Aiken Jr. (born 1967)[1] is a retired United States Navy rear admiral and surface warfare officer who last served as the 11th commander of the United States Naval Forces Southern Command and United States Fourth Fleet from 2021 to 2024.[2] He previously served as the commander of Carrier Strike Group 3 from 2020 to 2021,[3] with command tours as commodore of Destroyer Squadron 60 from 2013 to 2015, and commanding officer of the from 2007 to 2008.[4] [5] He was promoted to his present rank on April 1, 2021.[6]
A native of Pittsburgh, Aiken earned his commission via the NROTC Program at Pennsylvania State University with a bachelor's degree in political science. He also earned a master's degree in strategic studies from the United States Naval War College.[7]
| Surface Warfare Officer Pin | |||||
| Legion of Merit with three award stars | |||||
| Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with four award stars | Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with two award stars | Joint Meritorious Unit Commendation | |||
| Navy "E" Ribbon, 2nd award | National Defense Service Medal with bronze service star | ||||
| Southwest Asia Service Medal with bronze service star | Iraq Campaign Medal with bronze service star | ||||
| Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal | Global War on Terrorism Service Medal | Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with two bronze service stars | |||
| Command at Sea insignia | |||||
| Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge | |||||
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