Perhaps the Honorable Donald Rumsfeld, former Secretary of Defense under Presidents Gerald R. Ford and George H. W. Bush, best characterized the career of Admiral Ed Giambastiani when he referenced words that appear over the doors of the Naval Academy Chapel: Non sibi sed patriae (Not for self, but for country). Admiral Giambastiani’s years of service certainly embody this phrase.
Following his graduation from the Naval Academy, then-Ensign Giambastiani entered the nuclear submarine force aboard PUFFER (SSN-652). He was the 1973 winner of the Fleet Commander’s Junior Officer Submarine Shiphandling Competition.
Subsequent commands included the deep submergence and ocean engineering Submarine NR-1 and RICHARD B. RUSSELL (SSN-687). Giambastiani also served as Commander, Submarine Development Squadron 12; Commander, Atlantic Fleet Submarine Force; and Commander, Anti-Submarine and Reconnaissance Forces Atlantic.
He also was the Director of Submarine Warfare Division, Senior Military Assistant to Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld, Commander of the 1.1 million soldiers, sailors, airman and Marines of U.S. Joint Forces Command and NATO’s first Supreme Allied Commander Transformation.
The capstone of Giambastiani’s career was his appointment as the seventh vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. One area he gave specific attention to involved the military’s anti- improvised explosive device (IED) efforts and culminated in the establishment of the Joint IED Defeat Organization (JIEDDO), resulting in a six-fold decrease in casualties caused by IED’s in 2006 and 2007.
Giambastiani’s decorations include 12 Distinguished Service medals plus other medals and citations from the numerous foreign governments and NATO. Among the many recognitions he has received, though, he remains most proud of the 19 awards that recognize the efforts of his team as a whole.
He is a member of the board of directors of the Boeing Company, Oppenheimer Funds and Monster Worldwide. Since retirement, he has served on a numerous U.S. Government advisory boards, investigations and task forces for the Secretaries of Defense, State, Navy and Interior in addition to the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. A consistent supporter of the Naval Academy, he is a donor and Trustee of the Naval Academy Foundation Athletic and Scholarship Programs. Giambastiani has served as Chair of the Distinguished Graduate Award Selection Committee. He enthusiastically supports the Brigade through both mentoring activities and lectures.
Giambastiani is the father, brother and brother-in-law of Naval Academy graduates. He and his wife, Cindy, live in Florida.
Updated: November 23, 2025
Curator: Ed Moore