1. Overview
Elmo Russell "Bud" Zumwalt Jr. (November 29, 1920 - January 2, 2000) was a distinguished United States Navy officer who achieved the rank of admiral and served as the 19th Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) from 1970 to 1974, making him the youngest person to hold that position. Throughout his career, Zumwalt played a significant role in United States military history, particularly during the Vietnam War. As CNO, he initiated substantial reforms aimed at addressing issues of racism and sexism within the Navy and improving the overall quality of life for enlisted personnel, reflecting a progressive stance on social equality and human rights within the military. After retiring from a 32-year naval career, he pursued a political path, running an unsuccessful campaign for the United States Senate. His later years were marked by public service and advocacy, particularly concerning the health impacts of Agent Orange, which profoundly affected his own family.
2. Early Life and Education
Elmo Zumwalt's early life laid the foundation for his distinguished naval career.
2.1. Birth and Childhood
Zumwalt was born on November 29, 1920, in San Francisco, California. His parents, Elmo Russell Zumwalt and Frances Pearl (née Frank) Zumwalt, were both country doctors. His mother, Frances, was raised Jewish, the daughter of Julius and Sarah Frank of Burlington, Vermont. She became estranged from her parents due to her marriage outside the faith, as the Zumwalts were Christians. The family later relocated to Tulare, California, where Zumwalt spent his formative years.
3. Naval Career
Elmo Zumwalt's naval career spanned over three decades, marked by significant commands and contributions across multiple conflicts and through profound periods of change for the United States Navy.
3.1. Early Service and World War II
Upon his commissioning, Ensign Zumwalt's first assignment in August 1942 was as a watch officer aboard the destroyer USS Phelps (DD-360). In August 1943, the Phelps was detached for instruction at the Operational Training Command-Pacific in San Francisco, California. In January 1944, Zumwalt reported for duty aboard USS Robinson (DD-562). During his service on this ship, he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Valor device for his "heroic service as Evaluator in the Combat Information Center ... in action against enemy Japanese battleships during the Battle for Leyte Gulf" on October 25, 1944.
Following the conclusion of World War II in August 1945, Zumwalt continued his service as the prize crew officer of the Japanese river gunboat Ataka, a 1,200-ton vessel with a crew of 200. In this capacity, he commanded the first American-controlled ship since the outbreak of World War II to navigate up the Huangpu River to Shanghai, China. There, he and his crew played a crucial role in restoring order and assisting in the disarmament of Japanese forces. After completing this mission, the Ataka was transferred to the authorities of the Republic of China.
3.2. Post-War Command and Korean War
After his duties with the Ataka, Zumwalt served as the executive officer of the destroyer USS Saufley (DD-465). In March 1946, he transferred to the destroyer USS Zellars (DD-777), serving as both executive officer and navigator.
In January 1948, Zumwalt was assigned to the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps unit at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he remained until June 1950. That same month, he assumed command of USS Tills (DE-748), a destroyer escort that was initially commissioned in a reserve status. The Tills was placed into full active commission at Charleston Naval Shipyard on November 21, 1950, and Zumwalt continued to command her until March 1951. He then joined the battleship USS Wisconsin (BB-64) as navigator and participated in operations in Korea aboard the ship.
After being detached from USS Wisconsin in June 1952, Zumwalt attended the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island. Upon completion in June 1953, he was assigned to the Shore and Overseas Bases Section of the Bureau of Naval Personnel in Washington, D.C., where he also served as an officer and enlisted requirements officer and an action officer on Medicare legislation. In July 1955, he assumed command of the destroyer USS Arnold J. Isbell (DD-869), during which he participated in two deployments with the United States Seventh Fleet. His command earned commendation from the Commander, Cruiser-Destroyer Forces, United States Pacific Fleet, for winning the Battle Efficiency Competition and Excellence Awards in Engineering, Gunnery, Anti-Submarine Warfare, and Operations.
In July 1957, he returned to the Bureau of Naval Personnel. In December 1957, he was transferred to the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Personnel and Reserve Forces), serving as a special assistant for naval personnel until November 1958, and then as special assistant and naval aide until August 1959.
Zumwalt was then ordered to command the USS Dewey (DLG-14), the first ship built from the keel up as a guided missile frigate, constructed at the Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine. He assumed command upon her commissioning in December 1959 and served until June 1961. During his command, the Dewey received Excellence Awards in Engineering, Supply, and Weapons, and was runner-up in the Battle Efficiency Competition. Following this, he was a student at the National War College in Washington, D.C., during the 1961-1962 class year. In June 1962, he was assigned to the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (International Security Affairs), where he first served as desk officer for France, Spain, and Portugal, and later as director of arms control and contingency planning for Cuba. From December 1963 until June 21, 1965, he served as executive assistant and senior aide to Paul Nitze, then Secretary of the Navy. For his service in the offices of the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of the Navy, he was awarded the Legion of Merit.
3.3. Vietnam War
Elmo Zumwalt's leadership during the Vietnam War was a pivotal period in his career, marked by significant strategic decisions and their profound, often tragic, consequences.
3.3.2. Agent Orange Controversy and Personal Impact
During his command in Vietnam, Zumwalt made the controversial decision to order the widespread use of Agent Orange, a powerful herbicide, across the Mekong Delta. The stated objective was to eliminate dense vegetation that provided cover for enemy forces, specifically to "drive the Viet Cong back 1.00 K yd off the water's edge." At the time, military officials, relying on information from manufacturers, were assured that the chemical was harmless to humans. Based on these assurances, Zumwalt, like other unit commanders, proceeded with the Agent Orange operations.
However, the devastating long-term human cost of this decision became tragically clear years later, personally impacting Zumwalt's own family. Many service members, including his son, Elmo Zumwalt III, were exposed to the defoliant. In January 1983, Elmo Zumwalt III was diagnosed with lymphoma, and by 1985, he was also found to have Hodgkin's disease. Furthermore, Zumwalt's grandson, Elmo Russell Zumwalt IV, born in 1977, was born with severe learning disabilities. Admiral Zumwalt and his family became convinced that both his son and grandson were victims of Agent Orange exposure.
In a 1986 article published in The New York Times, Elmo Zumwalt III stated: "I am a lawyer and I don't think I could prove in court, by the weight of the existing scientific evidence, that Agent Orange is the cause of all the medical problems - nervous disorders, cancer and skin problems - reported by Vietnam veterans, or of their children's severe birth defects. But I am convinced that it is." This personal conviction underscored the profound impact of the chemical on their family.
Admiral Zumwalt and his son collaborated with writer John Pekkanen to produce the book My Father, My Son, published in September 1986. In this book, they openly discussed the family's tragedy and his son's battle with cancer, bringing the human cost of the war and Agent Orange to public attention. In 1988, the book was adapted into a TV movie of the same name, starring Karl Malden as the admiral and Keith Carradine as his son. Elmo Zumwalt III succumbed to his cancer on August 14, 1988, at the age of 42, just three months after the TV movie aired. The Zumwalt family's experience highlighted the critical need for recognition and support for veterans and their families affected by chemical exposures during wartime.
3.4. Chief of Naval Operations
Elmo Zumwalt's tenure as Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) was marked by groundbreaking reforms and a strategic vision for naval modernization.
President Richard Nixon nominated Zumwalt to be Chief of Naval Operations in April 1970. Upon his relief as Commander Naval Forces Vietnam on May 15, 1970, he was awarded a second Navy Distinguished Service Medal for exceptionally meritorious service. He assumed his duties as CNO and was promoted to full admiral on July 1, 1970.
3.4.2. "High-Low" Fleet Strategy
Admiral Zumwalt also undertook a major effort to reshape the Navy's fleet. Faced with a large number of aging World War II-era vessels, he proposed an innovative plan known as "High-Low." This strategy aimed to balance the acquisition of high-end, technologically advanced, and often nuclear-powered warships with the purchase of more numerous, less expensive, and simpler vessels. This approach was instituted despite significant resistance, most notably from Admiral Hyman Rickover, often called the 'Father of the Nuclear Navy,' who advocated for prioritizing a smaller number of major, advanced ships over a larger quantity of ordinary ones.
Zumwalt initially proposed four types of warships to fit his "High-Low" plan, but ultimately, only two classes materialized: the Pegasus-class hydrofoil missile patrol boats and the Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided missile frigates. Even then, only six of the planned more than 100 Pegasus-class hydrofoils were constructed. The Oliver Hazard Perry class, however, became the most numerous class of United States warships since World War II until the advent of the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers.
Zumwalt was the last Chief of Naval Operations to reside at Number One Observatory Circle before it became the official residence of the Vice President of the United States. His dissatisfaction with this decision reportedly contributed to his challenge against Virginia Senator Harry F. Byrd Jr. in the 1976 Senate election.
Elmo Zumwalt Jr. retired from the Navy on July 1, 1974, at the age of 53.
4. Post-Retirement Activities
Following his retirement from the United States Navy, Elmo Zumwalt remained active in various fields, contributing to public discourse, political life, and social causes.
4.1. Political Career
In 1976, Zumwalt entered the political arena as a Democratic candidate for the United States Senate from Virginia. He unsuccessfully challenged the incumbent independent senator Harry F. Byrd Jr., who defeated him with 57% of the vote compared to Zumwalt's 38%.
4.2. Public Service and Advocacy
After his political aspirations, Zumwalt served as the president of the American Medical Building Corporation in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. However, his most notable public service efforts stemmed from his family's personal tragedy related to Agent Orange.
During his son's illness in the early 1980s, Admiral Zumwalt became a fervent advocate, actively lobbying Congress to establish a national registry for bone marrow donors. Such a registry is vital for patients who do not have suitably matched donors within their own families. Although his son ultimately received a successful transplant from his sister, Zumwalt recognized that many patients lack such familial options. His persistent efforts were a major factor in the founding of the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) in July 1986. Admiral Zumwalt served as the first chairman of the NMDP's board of directors, showcasing his continued commitment to social causes and human well-being. He also later publicly defended Jeremy Boorda, then Chief of Naval Operations, amidst a controversy regarding Boorda's eligibility for certain Vietnam War service ribbons. Zumwalt's picture is displayed in the War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh City, near images of other American dignitaries, commemorating a visit he made after the normalization of relations between Vietnam and the United States.
4.3. Literary Works
Elmo Zumwalt authored and co-authored significant publications after his retirement. His memoir, On Watch: a Memoir, was published by Quadrangle Books in 1976. This book provides a comprehensive review of his naval career and notably includes reprints of all the Z-grams he issued as CNO. In this book, Zumwalt extensively quoted an interview with Admiral Hyman Rickover, known as the 'Father of the Nuclear Navy,' describing their combative conversation as a humbling experience. In 1986, he collaborated with his son, Elmo Zumwalt III, and writer John Pekkanen on My Father, My Son, published by MacMillan. This poignant book delves into the family's personal tragedy surrounding his son's battle with cancer, which they attributed to Agent Orange exposure during the Vietnam War. This work brought critical attention to the human costs of chemical warfare and post-war health issues for veterans.
5. Personal Life
While serving in Shanghai in 1945, Elmo Zumwalt met and married Mouza Coutelais-du-Roche, whose family of French-Russian descent was residing there. She returned to the United States with him. Together, they had four children: Elmo Russell Zumwalt III, James Gregory Zumwalt, Ann F. Zumwalt Coppola, and Mouzetta C. Zumwalt-Weathers. In his later years, Zumwalt resided in Arlington County, Virginia.
6. Death
Elmo Russell Zumwalt Jr. died on January 2, 2000, at the age of 79, at the Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina. His cause of death was mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive cancer strongly linked to asbestos exposure, which he likely incurred over his many years of naval service. His funeral service was held at the Naval Academy Chapel. In a eulogy delivered at his funeral, President Bill Clinton famously referred to Zumwalt as "the conscience of the United States Navy," acknowledging his profound impact on the institution and his unwavering commitment to improving the lives of its personnel.
7. Legacy and Assessment
Elmo Zumwalt's legacy is defined by his innovative leadership, his commitment to social justice within the military, and his advocacy for veterans' health.
7.1. Commemoration and Honors
The United States Navy has honored Zumwalt by naming its advanced guided missile destroyer program the Zumwalt class. The lead ship of this class, USS Zumwalt (DDG-1000), bears his name, following Navy tradition. This ship, a cutting-edge stealth missile destroyer, was commissioned in 2016. Its two composite boats are named "Elmo" and "Russell," after Zumwalt's and his son's first names, respectively.
In 2013, the Mesothelioma Center for Excellence at the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center was renamed the Elmo Zumwalt Treatment & Research Center. This center specializes in mesothelioma research, with a particular focus on veterans who may have been exposed to asbestos during their service, reflecting Zumwalt's own battle with the disease and his advocacy for veterans.
Beyond naval vessels and medical centers, Zumwalt received various recognitions. In 1994, the U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation honored him with its Lone Sailor Award for his distinguished naval career. In 1972, he became an honorary member of the Royal Swedish Society of Naval Sciences. He was also a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, initiated in 1980 as a Renaissance brother by the Connecticut chapter, a program designed for individuals who embody the fraternity's ideals but did not have the opportunity to join during their college years.
8. List of Z-grams
"Z-gram" was the semi-official title for policy directives issued by Elmo Zumwalt during his tenure as Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) from July 1, 1970, to July 1, 1974. These directives were primarily aimed at reforming outdated naval policies that hindered the recruitment and retention of qualified personnel, particularly during the period of United States withdrawal from the Vietnam War. They sought to address issues of racism and sexism, improve the quality of life for enlisted personnel, and modernize Navy culture.
- Z-gram 1 (July 1, 1970): Zumwalt's remarks upon taking office as CNO.
- Z-gram 2 (July 14, 1970): Convened a junior officer retention study group.
- Z-gram 3 (July 22, 1970): Cryptographic procedures and Policy.
- Z-gram 4 (July 30, 1970): Authorized 30 days leave for officers with orders for a permanent change of station (PCS).
- Z-gram 5 (July 30, 1970): Instituted a test program aboard six ships to extend to 1st class petty officers the privilege of officers and chief petty officers (CPOs) to keep civilian clothing aboard ship for wearing on liberty.
- Z-gram 6 (August 11, 1970): Instituted a test program, funded entirely by deployed personnel, to assist their families in obtaining transportation and lodging to visit them in an overseas liberty port during holiday periods.
- Z-gram 7 (August 11, 1970): Directed commanding officers to assign sponsors for newly arriving personnel. The sponsors were normally of the same rank or rate and with similar marital and family status to assist the arriving family in establishing themselves in the new location.
- Z-gram 8 (August 11, 1970): Extended the working hours of personnel writing officers' orders from 16:30 to 21:00 so those personnel would be available to answer telephone questions after duty hours of officers expecting orders.
- Z-gram 9 (August 14, 1970): Provided an alternative means of promotion to 1st class and CPO for highly motivated individuals who had five times failed the normal promotion examinations.
- Z-gram 10 (August 20, 1970): Required naval air stations to have an officer or CPO meet each arriving transient aircraft to coordinate aircraft servicing and assist flight crew with dining and temporary lodging.
- Z-gram 11 (August 24, 1970): Authorized continuing sea duty for enlisted men requesting it.
- Z-gram 12 (August 24, 1970): Authorized wearing of civilian clothes on shore bases during and after the evening meal by all enlisted personnel except recruits in basic training.
- Z-gram 13 (August 26, 1970): Directed commanding officers to grant 30 days of leave to at least half of their crew during the first 30 days following return from overseas deployment.
- Z-gram 14 (August 27, 1970): Abolished 18 collateral duties traditionally assigned to junior officers (including cigarette fund officer and cold weather officer) and encouraged assignment of another 18 collateral duties (including movie officer and athletics officer) to qualified senior petty officers.
- Z-gram 15 (August 28, 1970): Ordered all disbursing officers to provide all personnel with a statement of earnings prior to October 30, 1970, itemizing basic pay and allowances for clothing, quarters, sea duty, and hostile fire with taxes, deductions and allotments.
- Z-gram 16 (September 2, 1970): Established a computer database to assist enlisted personnel desiring a duty swap with a similarly qualified sailor on another ship or home port.
- Z-gram 17 (September 2, 1970): Raised the check-cashing limit at naval bases from 25 USD to 50 USD.
- Z-gram 18 (September 4, 1970): Opened the Navy Finance Center around the clock to all disbursing officers processing urgent inquiries about pay and benefits.
- Z-gram 19 (September 4, 1970): Implemented an executive order from President Nixon to authorize an increased percentage of early promotions for officers.
- Z-gram 20 (September 8, 1970): Required all shore bases to provide washing facilities and lockers for enlisted personnel assigned dirty work in dungarees.
- Z-gram 21 (September 9, 1970): Encouraged commanding officers to provide compensatory time off for personnel standing watch on holidays.
- Z-gram 22 (September 9, 1970): Authorized shore bases to organize facility improvement teams for welfare, living and parking facilities.
- Z-gram 23 (September 12, 1970): Established the CPO advisory board to the CNO.
- Z-gram 24 (September 14, 1970): Established procedures for Navy wives to present complaints, viewpoints and suggestions to commanding officers of shore bases.
- Z-gram 25 (September 16, 1970): Authorized ships in port to reduce watch standing rotation from one day in four to one day in six.
- Z-gram 26 (September 21, 1970): Shifted responsibility for shore patrol staffing from shipboard to shore-based personnel at major naval bases.
- Z-gram 27 (September 21, 1970): Eliminated routine local operations over a weekend by ships sailing from their home port.
- Z-gram 28 (September 21, 1970): Was a status report on implementation of recommendations by retention study groups.
- Z-gram 29 (September 22, 1970): Encouraged commanding officers to allow leave for 5% of their crew during overseas deployments.
- Z-gram 30 (September 23, 1970): Established "hard-rock" officers' clubs for junior officers at five naval bases and encouraged other naval base officers' clubs to allow at least one room for casual dress, encourage unescorted young ladies to visit the clubs, and appoint younger officers to advise club managers about other measures to improve morale of junior officers.
- Z-gram 31 (September 23, 1970): Established a junior officer ship-handling competition whose winners would be able to pick their next duty assignment.
- Z-gram 32 (September 23, 1970): Allowed sailors to arrange their own re-enlistment ceremonies with assistance from their command.
- Z-gram 33 (September 25, 1970): Established a procedure to improve customer relations at naval Base Exchanges.
- Z-gram 34 (September 25, 1970): Eliminated the requirement for junior officers to own formal dinner dress uniforms.
- Z-gram 35 (September 25, 1970): Authorized alcoholic beverages in barracks and beer vending machines in senior enlisted barracks.
- Z-gram 36 (September 26, 1970): Encouraged commanding officers to improve the customer service ethic at base dispensaries and disbursing facilities.
- Z-gram 37 (September 26, 1970): Reduced the rank required for command of aviation squadrons from commander to lieutenant commander.
- Z-gram 38 (September 28, 1970): Instructed commanding officers to eliminate scheduling of work routine on Sundays and holidays unless ship is deployed overseas.
- Z-gram 39 (October 5, 1970): Extended the operating hours of 25 large base commissaries to reduce crowds on Saturday mornings and paydays.
- Z-gram 40 (October 7, 1970): Gave sailors the option of being paid either in cash or by check.
- Z-gram 41 (October 21, 1970): Established a Command Excellence chair at the Naval War College to be filled by a commander or captain with a record of outstanding performance in command.
- Z-gram 42 (October 13, 1970): Allowed junior officers to request sea duty as their first choice for initial duty assignment.
- Z-gram 43 (October 13, 1970): Encouraged commanding officers to help disbursing officers speedily process large travel reimbursement claims.
- Z-gram 44 (October 13, 1970): Encouraged assignment of senior petty officers to stand in-port officer of the deck watches to reduce junior officer workload.
- Z-gram 45 (October 15, 1970): Encouraged commanding officers to increase support services to families of prisoners of war.
- Z-gram 46 (October 15, 1970): Reduced routine paperwork required for the 3M planned maintenance system inspections and documentation.
- Z-gram 47 (October 20, 1970): Increased responsibilities of department heads and executive officers of ships being deactivated.
- Z-gram 48 (October 23, 1970): Established a new Bureau of Naval Personnel office focused on providing information to dependent families of active duty personnel.
- Z-gram 49 (October 23, 1970): Required half of personnel on awards boards to be below the rank of commander.
- Z-gram 50 (October 23, 1970): Encouraged ships returning from overseas deployments to use shore-based utilities to allow leave for increased numbers of engineering personnel.
- Z-gram 51 (October 23, 1970): Established a uniform breast insignia for officers in charge of brown-water navy boats.
- Z-gram 52 (October 23, 1970): Dissemination of CNO policy.
- Z-gram 53 (November 2, 1970): Authorized annual publication of a list of job assignments available to junior officers, emphasizing geographical locations and required qualifications for career planning.
- Z-gram 54 (November 2, 1970): Outlined procedures for junior personnel to make suggestions to CNO.
- Z-gram 55 (November 4, 1970): Established pilot program for improving Navy human resources management.
- Z-gram 56 (November 9, 1970): Established a program similar to Z-16 for officers desiring a duty swap with a similarly qualified officer on another ship or home port.
- Z-gram 57 (November 10, 1970): Eliminated a broad spectrum of selectively enforced regulations and specified relaxed interpretations of others related to grooming standards and wearing of uniforms, so the vast majority of sailors would not be penalized by policies designed to constrain a few abusing the trust and confidence of less stringent rules.
- Z-gram 58 (November 14, 1970): Required ships' stores afloat to accept checks in payment for purchases.
- Z-gram 59 (November 14, 1970): Established a program for officers to spend a year of independent research and study for professional development in areas mutually beneficial to the officer and the Navy.
- Z-gram 60 (November 18, 1970): Encouraged all major naval installations to install a recording answering device on one telephone to receive suggestions.
- Z-gram 61 (November 19, 1970): Authorized warrant officers and senior petty officers afloat to serve as communications watch officers and registered publications custodians.
- Z-gram 62 (November 27, 1970): Established a Naval War College forum to discuss improved naval personnel policies and present their views to CNO and Secretary of the Navy.
- Z-gram 63 (November 30, 1970): Reduced by 25% the number of publications to be maintained by ships.
- Z-gram 64 (December 3, 1970): Encouraged commanding officers to increase the opportunities for junior officers to practice ship handling.
- Z-gram 65 (December 5, 1970): Listed incentives for officers to volunteer for duty in Vietnam.
- Z-gram 66 (December 17, 1970): Directed every navy facility to appoint a minority group officer or senior petty officer as a minority affairs assistant to the commanding officer.
- Z-gram 67 (December 22, 1970): Streamlined required inspection procedures to reduce the amount of time required for preparation and execution.
- Z-gram 68 (December 23, 1970): Expanded the civilian clothing privilege explored in Z-gram 5 to all petty officers on all ships.
- Z-gram 69 (December 28, 1970): Eliminated command of a deep draft ship from the requirements for promotion to admiral.
- Z-gram 70 (January 21, 1971): Clarified grooming standards and working uniform regulations addressed by Z-gram 57 to reflect contemporary hair styles and allow wearing working uniforms while commuting between the base and off-base housing.
9. Dates of Rank
Elmo Zumwalt began his naval career as a Midshipman in the Class of 1943 at the United States Naval Academy, though he graduated on June 19, 1942, due to wartime necessity.
| Ensign | Lieutenant (junior grade) | Lieutenant | Lieutenant Commander | Commander | Captain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| O-1 | O-2 | O-3 | O-4 | O-5 | O-6 |
 |  |  |  |  |  |
| June 19, 1942 | May 1, 1943 | July 1, 1944 | April 1, 1950 | February 1, 1955 | July 1, 1961 |
| Rear Admiral (lower half) | Rear Admiral (upper half) | Vice Admiral | Admiral |
|---|---|---|---|
| O-7 | O-8 | O-9 | O-10 |
 |  |  |  |
| Never Held | July 1, 1965 | October 1, 1968 | July 1, 1970 |
10. Major Assignments
Throughout his extensive naval career, Elmo Zumwalt held numerous significant commands and staff positions.
- August 1942 - November 1943: Watch officer, USS Phelps (DD-360)
- November 1943 - December 1943: Student, Operational Training Command Pacific, San Francisco, California
- January 1944 - October 1945: Watch officer, USS Robinson (DD-562)
- October 1945 - March 1946: Executive officer, USS Saufley (DD-465)
- March 1946 - January 1948: Executive officer, USS Zellars (DD-777)
- January 1948 - June 1950: Assistant professor of naval sciences, NROTC Unit, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- June 1950 - March 1951: Commanding officer, USS Tills (DE-748)
- March 1951 - June 1952: Navigator, USS Wisconsin (BB-64)
- June 1952 - June 1953: Student, Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island
- June 1953 - July 1955: Bureau of Naval Personnel, Washington, D.C.
- July 1955 - July 1957: Commanding officer, USS Arnold J. Isbell (DD-869)
- July 1957 - December 1957: Lieutenant detailer, Bureau of Naval Personnel
- December 1957 - August 1959: Special assistant, executive assistant, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Personnel and Reserve Forces
- August 1959 - June 1961: Prospective commanding officer, commanding officer, USS Dewey (DLG-14)
- August 1961 - June 1962: Student, National War College, Washington, D.C.
- June 1962 - December 1963: Desk officer, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (International Security Affairs)
- December 1963 - June 1965: Executive assistant, Office of the Secretary of the Navy
- July 1965 - July 1966: Commander, Cruiser-Destroyer Flotilla Seven
- August 1966 - August 1968: Director, Systems Analysis Division, Office of the CNO
- September 1968 - May 1970: Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Vietnam and Chief, Naval Advisory Group Vietnam, Saigon, South Vietnam
- July 1970 - June 1974: Chief of Naval Operations, The Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia
11. Awards and Decorations
Elmo Zumwalt received a comprehensive array of military and civilian awards and decorations from the United States and various foreign nations, recognizing his distinguished service and contributions.
11.1. U.S. military awards and decorations
- Navy Distinguished Service Medal with two gold award stars
- Legion of Merit with gold award star
- Bronze Star Medal with Valor device
- Navy Commendation Medal with Valor device
- Navy Unit Commendation
- China Service Medal
- American Defense Service Medal with bronze "A" Device
- American Campaign Medal
- Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one silver and two bronze campaign stars
- World War II Victory Medal
- Navy Occupation Service Medal with "ASIA" clasp
- National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star
- Korean Service Medal with two bronze service stars
- Vietnam Service Medal with one silver and two bronze service stars
- Navy Expert Rifle Marksmanship Ribbon
11.2. U.S. civilian awards
- Presidential Medal of Freedom
11.3. Foreign awards
- Grand Cross of the Order of May (Naval Merit), (Argentina)
- Commander of the Order of Léopold, (Belgium)
- Grade of High Officer of the Order of Naval Merit, (Bolivia)
- Grand Officer of the Order of Naval Merit, (Brazil)
- Grand Cross of the Order of the Southern Cross, (Brazil)
- Order of Merit, (Chile)
- Grand Officer of the Order of Naval Merit Admiral Padilla, (Colombia)
- Grand Cross with Silver Breast Star of the Order of Merit of Duarte, Sánchez and Mella, (Dominican Republic)
- Commander of the Legion of Honour, (France)
- Grand Cross, Second Class of the Order of Merit, (Germany)
- Grand Cross of the Order of George I, (Greece)
- Bintang Jalasena, First Class (Indonesia)
- Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, (Italy)
- Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun, (Japan)
- Order of Military Merit, Third Class (Republic of Korea)
- Order of National Security Merit, Tong-Il Medal (Republic of Korea)
- Grand Officer of the Order of Orange-Nassau (with Swords), (Netherlands)
- Grand Cross of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav, (Norway)
- Commander Grand Cross of the Royal Order of the Sword, (Sweden)
- Order of Naval Merit, First Class (Venezuela)
- National Order of Vietnam, Third Class (Republic of Vietnam)
- Republic of Vietnam Navy Distinguished Service Order, First Class (Republic of Vietnam)
- Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm (Republic of Vietnam)
- Chuong My Medal, 1st Class (Republic of Vietnam)
- Philippine Liberation Medal with two service stars (Philippines)
- United Nations Korea Medal
- Vietnam Campaign Medal (Republic of Vietnam)
- Korean War Service Medal (Republic of Korea)
11.4. Foreign unit awards
- Philippine Presidential Unit Citation (Philippines)
- Korean Presidential Unit Citation (Republic of Korea)
- Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation (Republic of Vietnam)
- Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation (Republic of Vietnam)
11.5. Boy Scouts of America awards
- Distinguished Eagle Scout Award