David Elmer Jeremiah (February 25, 1934 – October 7, 2013) was a United States Navy admiral who served as the second vice chairman and also the acting chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. After his retirement from the Navy in February 1994, he worked in the field of investment banking. He served as partner and President, CEO and later Chairman of Technology Strategies & Alliances Corporation,[1] a strategic advisory and investment banking firm engaged primarily in the aerospace, defense, telecommunications, and electronics industries. During his military career Jeremiah earned a reputation as an authority on strategic planning, financial management and the policy implications of advanced technology.
Jeremiah served four years as Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for Generals Colin L. Powell and John M. Shalikashvili. He was a key player for both Chairmen in the transition to a post-Cold War military. Jeremiah was also the Commander in Chief of the United States Pacific Fleet from 1987 to 1991.[citation needed]
He commanded a task force, battle group and destroyer squadron in earlier tours in the Mediterranean. He served as commanding officer of the guided missile destroyer USS Preble from 1974 to 1976.[2] In October 1985 he directed the attempt to capture the hijackers of the MS Achille Lauro and in April 1986 led combat operations against Libya in the Gulf of Sidra. Ashore, Jeremiah served as Director, Navy Program Planning and in financial planning positions on the staffs of the Secretary of Defense and Chief of Naval Operations.
From 1956 to 1987, Jeremiah advanced in rank from ensign to admiral:[3]
Jeremiah was Chairman of the Board of Directors of Wackenhut Services, Inc. and served on the Boards of Directors for Geobiotics, LLC, Todd Shipyards Corporation, ManTech International Corporation and the Board of Trustees for MITRE Corporation and In-Q-Tel and advisory boards for Northrop Grumman Corporation and the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs.
In addition to his corporate responsibilities, Jeremiah served as a member of the President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board, the George Bush Presidential Library Advisory Council and a National Reconnaissance Office Advisory Panel.
Jeremiah earned a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the University of Oregon and a master's degree in Financial Management from George Washington University. He completed the Program for Management Development at Harvard Business School.[1]
Jeremiah died on October 7, 2013, at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, aged 79. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
