Richard Dunleavy

In the 2008 presidential election, he was among the 300 generals and admirals who enthusiastically endorsed John McCain for president.

A March 2, 1992 Los Angeles Times article quoted Dunleavy as saying, "We in naval aviation leadership . . . failed . . . We weren't there to step in and stop it . . . I should be fired." The article goes on to state he felt the incident was "despicable" and prompted much "soul-searching."

In 1991, Admiral Dunleavy was the highest-ranking officer at the annual Tailhook Association Symposium in Las Vegas, NV. After the convention was over, 83 women and 7 men stated that they had been victims of sexual assault and harassment during the meeting. As a result of the subsequent investigation Admiral Dunleavy took full responsibility for the incident.

Dunleavy commanded USS Ponchatoula and was later selected as the first naval flight officer to command an aircraft carrier, serving as commanding officer of USS Coral Sea (CV-43) (as a captain). While commanding the Coral Sea, he participated in the Iranian Hostage Crisis rescue attempt of April 1980 while patrolling in Gonzo Station, near Iran. Dunleavy was extremely well-liked and respected, and was considered an excellent commanding officer by those who served under him on the Coral Sea.

Dunleavy's first Fleet assignment was as a bombardier/navigator in the A-3 Skywarrior at NAS Jacksonville, Florida, followed by later transition to the A-5 Vigilante at NAS Sanford, Florida. He then became a reconnaissance attack navigator in the RA-5C Vigilante and was redesignated a Naval Flight Officer (NFO) with the establishment of the NFO specialty in 1966. Selected for transition to the A-6 Intruder attack aircraft, he subsequently became a bombardier/navigator in that aircraft at NAS Oceana, Virginia, later commanding an Atlantic Fleet A-6 squadron based there, Attack Squadron 176 (VA-176). This was followed by command of the Pacific Fleet's A-6 fleet replacement squadron (FRS), Attack Squadron 128 (VA-128) at NAS Whidbey Island, Washington.

Dunleavy was born and raised in Boston. He attended Boston College and graduated in 1955.

While his squadrons were deployed on the USS Forrestal (CV-59) and USS Saratoga (CV-60) in the late 1950s and early 1960s he served in the North Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea. He made an around the world cruise in 1964, as part of Operation Sea Orbit, while deployed on the USS Enterprise with Heavy Attack Squadron 7 (VAH-7).

Admiral Richard Michael Dunleavy (born April 25, 1933) is a retired US naval officer. He retired as a two-star rear admiral in 1992 after being demoted from the rank of three-star vice admiral as a result of the Tailhook scandal.