RADM Andrew Giordano, US Navy (ret)

Age 88, passed away on April 22, 2021 at the Greenspring Villages retirement community in Springfield, Virginia, a Washington, DC suburb. Admiral Giordano retired from the Navy on March 28, 1984, after 31 years of active service and while serving since June 1981 as Commander, Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP), and 34th Chief of Supply Corps. Born in Clifton, New Jersey, he graduated cum laude from the School of Business, College of the City of New York, in 1953, and was commissioned Ensign within a year. After graduation from the Navy Supply Corps School, he was assigned as supply officer aboard USS Edisto (AGB 2), and then aboard the USS Otterstetter (DER 244). After completing a tour as an instructor at Navy Supply Corps School, Athens, Georgia, he entered the Harvard Graduate School of Business where he earned a Master of Business Administration with distinction in 1962. Following a three-year tour of duty at Naval Supply Depot, Yokosuka, Japan, and instruction at the Naval War College, then Commander Giordano was assigned as executive assistant to Commander, Naval Supply Systems Command, and Chief of Supply Corps. He then became the supply officer on USS Kitty Hawk (CVA 63) during that ship’s 1968-69 Vietnam combat deployment, and in 1970, he became assistant force supply officer, Commander, Naval Air Forces, Pacific Fleet. In 1972, Capt. Giordano was assigned as operations officer, Aviation Supply Office, Philadelphia, and, in 1974, was designated as the first deputy commander for financial management/comptroller, Naval Supply Systems Command. In May 1977, as a newly selected Rear Admiral, he was assigned as director, materiel division on the staff of the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Logistics). It was in this role that Admiral Giordano earned lasting distinction as the architect of a highly innovative, congressionally approved financial management initiative which utilized the Navy Working Capital fund for the financing of procurement and repair of high value readiness-critical aviation repair parts. Before this initiative, procurement and repair were financed through separate appropriations with entirely different funding streams, long budgeting lead times and very little ability to rebalance funding between procurement and repair as fleet needs changed. This resulted in imbalanced under-funding and significantly delayed procurement and repair of these critical assets, which caused undue degradation of fleet readiness and a waste of related resources. Admiral Giordano conceived and implemented an innovative way to use the advance procurement authority inherent in the Navy Working Capital Fund. This resulted in radically improved funding and allowed real-time rebalancing of procurement and repair resources as fleet needs changed. As a direct result, fleet aviation readiness soared to unprecedented levels. This success firmly established Rear Admiral Giordano’s reputation as the “Go To” expert in Navy logistics and financial management. This and his many additional readiness-oriented enhancements while serving at flag rank have stood the test of time for decades. As a result of his dedicated career-long focus on improved fleet support and effective resource management, his personal commendations include the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit (Gold Star in lieu of Second Award), Meritorious Service Medal (Gold Star in lieu of Second Award), Navy Commendation Medal (Gold Star in lieu of Second Award), Navy Achievement Medal, Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal (Bronze Star), Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Gallantry Cross with Palm, and Vietnam Service Medal. After retiring from the Navy, Admiral Giordano served in senior executive roles with numerous public companies—including Chairman of the Board of The Joseph A. Bank Clothiers, Inc. He also served on several significant Navy boards and with key Navy-related foundations. He continued to mentor active-duty officers and remained a dynamic part of the Supply Corps community. In recognition of his lasting impact, the Navy Supply Corps Foundation honored him with its prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award---given annually to an exceptional individual who has served with honor in the Supply Corps and whose uniquely enduring contributions to the Navy and the Nation have brought especially valuable benefits to the lives of others. Rear Admiral Giordano is survived by his wife, Felice, his sons, Andrew Jr. and Dean, his daughter Catherine, and eight grandchildren.