Admiral Frank B. Kelso II, a proud Fayetteville native, dedicated 38 years to the United States Navy, rising to its highest military office as the 24th Chief of Naval Operations. After graduating from Lincoln County Central High School, he attended the University of the South at Sewanee before entering the U.S. Naval Academy, where he earned his commission in 1956. His highly distinguished career saw him command multiple nuclear submarines, direct the U.S. Sixth Fleet during critical operations in the Mediterranean during the 1980s, and ultimately lead the entire Navy through the Persian Gulf War and the complex post-Cold War transition of the early 1990s. Following his retirement in 1994, Admiral Kelso brought his lifelong dedication to service back to his roots, returning home to Fayetteville in 2003, where he spent his later years deeply involved in local civic and community life.
