Kevin J. Cosgriff

Note: This is the biography page of a former staff member, affiliate, etc., and may not be current.

Kevin J. Cosgriff is President & CEO of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (WWW.NEMA.ORG) headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. The 400+ member companies of NEMA manufacture a full range of diverse products used in generation, transmission, distribution and end use of electricity as well as medical diagnostic imaging.

Before retiring then Vice Admiral Cosgriff was Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command where he oversaw all naval combat, combat support, and maritime security operations throughout the Middle East and Southwest Asia area, including Iraq, Afghanistan and the Horn of Africa areas. He simultaneously commanded the U.S. Fifth Fleet and the Combined Maritime Forces, the latter comprised of ships and aircraft from over twenty contributing nations. He fashioned an operational approach to provide multi-lateral maritime security in this energy-rich area covering three vital waterways. Working with U.S. Ambassadors and local leaders, he led efforts to enhance the capability and capacity of regional navies and coast guards. Through direct personal interaction with Ministers and Heads of militaries and navies, he forged strong relationships between the U.S. Navy and these important countries. 

Vice Admiral Cosgriff was previously the Deputy Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command in Norfolk, Virginia. Before that he served as Director for Warfare Analysis and Integration for the Chief of Naval Operations, and was the Director, Office of Program Appraisal for the Secretary of the Navy. During the Clinton Administration, he was the Director, White House Situation Room and Director of Systems and Technical Planning for the National Security Council.

Vice Admiral Cosgriff served as Executive Assistant to the Under Secretary of the Navy, and earlier was Deputy Director of the Chief of Naval Operations Executive Panel. He was Assistant Director for House of Representatives Liaison in the Office of Legislative Affairs and had served as Executive Assistant to Navy’s Director of Strategy and Policy. He was also an analyst at the Defense Intelligence Agency/National Military Intelligence Center.

In addition to the U.S. Fifth Fleet, Vice Admiral Cosgriff previously commanded Cruiser Destroyer Group Eight/Theodore Roosevelt Battle Group. He commanded Destroyer Squadron 32 and USS Robert G Bradley (FFG 49) earlier in his career.

He graduated from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, N.Y. and began active duty with the Navy directly thereafter. He was among the first students to receive a Master of Science in Strategic Intelligence from the National Intelligence University, on which Board of Visitors he now serves. He also is on the Board of the Applied Physic Laboratory of the University of Washington and at the Stimson Center, a Washington DC think tank.

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