May 14 2024 66 mins
Admiral Joseph Prueher completed thirty-five years in the United States Navy in 1999. His last command was Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Pacific Command (CINCPAC); the largest military command in the world.
He then served two Presidents as Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China from 1999 to 2001.
Admiral Prueher is the former James R. Schlesinger Distinguished Professor at the Miller Center of the University of Virginia, as well as Senior Advisor to the Stanford-Harvard Preventive Defense Project, working on dialogue for US-China security matters.
He is a former Director of Merrill Lynch, Bank of America, New York Life, DynCorp International, Armada Hoffler, Amerigroup Corporation, Emerson Electric, and Fluor Corporation.
A member of The Council on Foreign Relations, he is also Vice Chairman of the National Committee on U.S.- China Relations.
He is a member of and supports several regional foundations in the Hampton roads area.
From 1989 through 1995, Admiral Prueher served as Commandant at the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis; Commander of Carrier Battle Group ONE based in San Diego; Commander of the U.S. Mediterranean Sixth Fleet and of NATO Striking Forces based in Italy; and as Vice Chief of Naval Operations in the Pentagon.
Foremost a carrier based attack pilot for his first 24 years of service, he also spent three years as a Navy Test Pilot at Patuxent River, MD. He has extensive flight and combat experience, with over 5600 flight hours and over 1000 carrier landings. He was qualified in 52 types of aircraft, held numerous senior operational commands, including two carrier air wings, and led the formation of the Naval Strike Warfare Center in Fallon, NV.
From Nashville, TN, Admiral Prueher graduated from Montgomery Bell Academy, and then graduated with distinction in 1964 from the U.S. Naval Academy, later receiving an M.S. in International Relations from George Washington University.
Admiral Prueher has received multiple military awards for combat flying as well as naval and Joint Service. The governments of Singapore, Thailand, Japan, Korea, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Australia have formally honored him with induction into their highest military Orders.
Suzanne, his wife of 54 years, and he reside in Virginia Beach, VA, where they are active members of the First Presbyterian Church. Their daughter, Brooks, an urban planner, lives with her husband, Owen Barwell, and their three children, in Evergreen, CO. Their son, Joshua is CEO of xgsEnergy. He and his wife Kate, live and work in Los Angeles, CA.