UNCLASSIFIED 
 
ROUTINE 
 
R 231700Z DEC 16 
 
FM CNO WASHINGTON DC 
 
TO NAVADMIN 
 
INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC 
 
BT 
UNCLAS 

NAVADMIN 286/16 
 
SUBJ/PASSING OF ADMIRAL WILLIAM N. SMALL, USN (RET), 20TH VICE CHIEF 
OF NAVAL OPERATIONS// 
 
MSGID/GENADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/DNS/DEC// 
 
RMKS/1.  IT IS WITH DEEP SADNESS THAT I REPORT THE PASSING OF ADMIRAL 
WILLIAM N. SMALL, USN (RET) ON 09 DECEMBER 2016. 
 
2.  ADMIRAL SMALL SERVED THE NATION BY LEADING SAILORS DURING SOME OF 
OUR NATIONS MOST DYNAMIC AND CHALLENGING TIMES.  A GRADUATE OF THE 
UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY IN 1948, HE WAS AN ACCOMPLISHED NAVAL 
AVIATOR THAT SERVED HIS COURNTRY FOR OVER FOR 40 YEARS. 
 
3.  ADMIRAL SMALL SERVED AS EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF USS FORRESTAL 
(CV 59) AND AS COMMANDING OFFICER OF FIGHTER ATTACK SQUADRON 
FOUR TWO (VA 42), FIGHTER ATTACK SQUADRON SIX FIVE (VA 65), AND USS 
INDEPENDENCE (CV 62).  AS A FLAG OFFICER, HE SERVED AS COMMANDER 
CARRIER DIVISION THREE, PACIFIC; COMMANDER SIXTH FLEET; VICE CHIEF OF 
NAVAL OPERATIONS; AND THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF, U.S. NAVAL FORCES 
EUROPE/NATO ALLIED FORCES, SOUTHERN EUROPE; CONCLUDING 40 YEARS 
OF NAVAL SERVICE. 
 
4.  ADMIRAL SMALL IS SURVIVED BY HIS WIFE JANET SMALL AND THEIR 
THREE CHILDREN, JAMES SMALL, JANET ZARITSKY AND JOANIE MARSH. 
HE WAS AN INCREDIBLE AVIATOR, A DEDICATED HUSBAND AND FATHER, 
UNSURPASSED FRIEND AND A SHIPMATE WHOSE LIFE AND ACTIONS LEFT 
AN INDELIBLE MARK ON ALL HE TOUCHED.  HIS PASSING IS A TREMENDOUS 
LOSS TO OUR NAVY AND AVIATION FAMILY.  WE WILL NEVER FORGET THE 
LIFE AND HONORABLE SERVICE OF THIS GREAT SPIRITED LEADER. 
 
5.  RELEASED BY VADM J. G. FOGGO III, DIRECTOR OF THE NAVY STAFF.// 
 
BT 
#0001 
NNNN
UNCLASSIFIED//