Michael Colley

United States Navy admiral (1938–2013)

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Michael C. Colley

Colley as a Rear Admiral in 1987

Born| (1938-02-19)February 19, 1938
Wheaton, Minnesota
Died| January 19, 2013(2013-01-19) (aged 74)
Gulf Shores, Alabama
Allegiance|  United States
Service/branch|  United States Navy
Rank| Vice admiral
Commands held| USS Narwhal (SSN-671)
USS Proteus (AS-19)
Submarine Force, Pacific Fleet
Battles/wars| Gulf War
Other work| Libertarian Party

Michael Christian Colley,[1] USN (Ret.), (February 19, 1938 – January 19, 2013) was a United States Navy officer who served as vice admiral[2][3] and whose career included several high-ranking commands in the submarine force and elsewhere in national security positions.[4]

## Early life[edit]

Colley was born in Wheaton, Minnesota on February 19, 1938.[5]

## Military career[edit]

Colley graduated with distinction from the United States Naval Academy in June 1960.[5][6] He had sea duty assignments on several nuclear-powered submarines[4] and was Commanding Officer of the attack submarine Narwhal. He was Commander of the Navy Recruiting Command for three years, and Deputy Commander of the submarine directorate in the Pentagon. He earned a master's degree in Computer Systems from the Naval Postgraduate School. Other operational assignments included command of the submarine tender Proteus in Guam and the Navy's largest submarine squadron in Groton, Connecticut. During the first Gulf War, he was commander of the Pacific Fleet submarine force of over 40 boats from his headquarters at Pearl Harbor. Earlier, he was Director, Division of Mathematics and Science (including the departments of math, physics, chemistry, oceanography and computer science) at the Naval Academy.

## Activism and views[edit]

After leaving the Navy, Colley was active in the national security policy and analysis field, intelligence evaluation and senior management level positions in the public sector. He joined the Libertarian Party in 2003 and served as an elected member of the Libertarian National Committee from 2004 to 2010.[7][3] Colley always advocated that the purpose of the United States military was defense and "not to serve as the world policeman," or "build democracy or engage in nation-building." Colley was interested in civil liberties issues and opposed government regulation "of all facets of our lives." On immigration, he welcomed people coming to the United States to "enjoy the freedoms we have" and opposed building a fence on the U.S.-Mexico border.[7]

## Death[edit]

Admiral Colley died unexpectedly at his home in Gulf Shores, Alabama on January 19, 2013.[8] The ashes of Colley and his wife Arlen Carol Colley (1938–2001) were interred at Arlington National Cemetery.[1]

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b "Colley, Michael Christian". ANCExplorer. U.S. Army. Retrieved 2021-03-16.
2. ^ Rhodes, Richard (2008), Arsenals of Folly: The Making of the Nuclear Arms Race, Knopf Doubleday, p. 90, ISBN 9780375713941 Retrieved February 1, 2023.
3. ^ a b "U.S. admiral: Let military plan Iraq exit". United Press International. July 16, 2007. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
4. ^ a b Thompson, Steven (April 1991) "Sea Cliff (DSV 4)", All Hands. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
5. ^ a b "Sub Squandron Two command changed", The Day, July 28, 1984.
6. ^ "Michael C. Colley". The Washington Post. December 15, 2013. Retrieved 2021-03-16.
7. ^ a b "The Libertarian Party Remembers Admiral Michael C. Colley". September 13, 2013.
8. ^ "American Heart/American Stroke Association". Honor.americanheart.org. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved July 29, 2013.

## External links[edit]

* Submarine Force Pacific Fleet
* Libertarian Party of Alabama : Colley