Richard Chester Macke was a naval aviator and rear admiral in the United States Navy. He last served as Commander of United States Pacific Command (USPACOM) from July 19, 1994 until January 31, 1996. After his navy career, Macke served as a vice president of Wheat International Communications Corporation. Naval career Macke graduated from the United States Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1960. After graduation, he reported to flight training at NAS Pensacola, Florida. After training at several other air stations, he was designated a Naval Aviator in August 1961. He then reported to Attack Squadron 23 (VA-23) at NAS Lemoore, California and flew A-4 Skyhawks from the aircraft carrier . In 1965, Macke was selected for Test Pilot Training and entered the United States Navy Test Pilot School at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland. Following graduation, he served in the Weapons System Test Directorate of the Naval Air Test Center, participating in the initial trials of the A-7A, Corsair II aircraft. He next went to VA-27, flying A-7s and completing more than 150 combat missions in Southeast Asia from the aircraft carrier . Macke reported to the United States Naval Postgraduate School in February 1970, where he graduated with distinction with a Master of Science degree in operations research and systems analysis. In March 1971, he reported to VA-66 at NAS Cecil Field, Florida as Executive Officer and later as Commanding Officer of that attack squadron, flying the A-7E Corsair II from the . In January 1975, Macke was assigned to the Navy Office of Legislative Affairs in the Pentagon, where he was involved in presenting the Naval Aviation Program budget to members of Congress and their staffs. Following completion of Nuclear Propulsion Training, Admiral Macke served as Executive Officer of , where he participated in the attempted rescue of American hostages in Iran. Completing that tour, he was selected for major ship command and commanded the . Macke served a short tour as the Executive Assistant to the Navy Director of Command and Control in the Pentagon prior to reporting to the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier as Commanding Officer on July 6, 1984. During his tour on the Dwight D. Eisenhower, the ship was awarded the Battle "E" as the most combat-ready aircraft carrier on the East Coast of the United States. Macke relinquished command on October 18, 1986. Macke was selected for flag rank and