Rear Admiral Christopher Warren Cole USN-(Ret.)

ENS Cole received his wings September, 29, 1972 at HT-18, NAS Ellyson Field, Pensacola, Florida. ENS Cole is Navy Helicopter Pilot Designation Number R-12265.

Christopher Warren Cole Obituary

Christopher Warren Cole, 77, passed away on April 3, 2026, surrounded by the love of his family.

Born on September 21, 1948, in Mount Vernon, New York, Chris grew up in Connecticut and then St. Petersburg, Florida. He went on to attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science under a Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) scholarship.

Chris proudly served his country in the United States Navy for 32 years, retiring with distinction as a two-star Rear Admiral. A Naval Aviator, he piloted helicopters and went on to command two helicopter squadrons, serve as Captain of the USS El Paso (LKA-117) and the USS Kearsarge (LHD-3), and was Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Korea and Commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic. His personal awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit (four awards), Meritorious Service Medal (four awards), and Navy Commendation Medal. After retirement, he continued his commitment to his country through his leadership with the Navy Safe Harbor Foundation and the Military Bowl.

Chris will be remembered for his rare ability to pair strong leadership with genuine warmth. He led with confidence and heart, bringing humor, approachability, and a gift for making others feel welcome wherever he went. He was an avid fan of his UNC Tar Heels, the New York Yankees, and the Washington Nationals, a lover of Star Wars, Horatio Hornblower, and Pixar films, and in retirement, he was rarely seen without one of his signature Hawaiian shirts.

Chris is survived by his loving wife of 40 years, Kathy; his beloved daughters, Elizabeth Garber (David), Emily Howard (Grant), and Sarah Cole (Walker); his cherished grandchildren, Ruth Louise and Calvin Lamar Garber, Henry Christopher and Ellis Elizabeth Howard, and Jane Warren Hamby; his younger brother, Tyler (Candice) Cole; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his older sister Linda Ryder, and his parents, David and Louise Cole.

A visitation will be held on May 1st from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Fairfax Memorial Funeral Home, and a memorial service will be held on May 2nd at 10 a.m. at King of Kings Lutheran Church in Fairfax, Virginia. Arlington National Cemetery interment information will be shared when it becomes available.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Navy Safe Harbor Foundation or the Lewy Body Dementia Association.

Chris was a true leader, a patriot, a friend of many, and a family man. He will be deeply missed and forever remembered.

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Emily Howard
Apr 7, 2026
Visitation and Memorial Service
Hello friends and family,
Thank you so much for all your prayers and condolences over the past few days; it has meant the world to us. Dad’s obituary will be posted as soon as it is available. In the meantime, I wanted to share the information for the visitation and memorial service.
Visitation:  Friday, May 1, 4-7 p.m. Fairfax Memorial Funeral Home 9902 Braddock Rd. Fairfax, VA 22032
Memorial Service: Saturday, May 2 at 10 a.m. King of Kings Lutheran Church 4025 Kings Way Fairfax, VA 22032
We will also share the information for Dad’s Arlington National Cemetery interment as it becomes available. This could be several months from now, but we will share it here and in the obituary.
Thank you again for all of your love and support.
-The Cole Girls

Rear Admiral Cole, a native of St. Petersburg, Fla., graduated in 1971 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and was commissioned through the NROTC Program. He reported to Navy flight training in July, 1971 and was designated a Naval Aviator in October, 1972.
At sea, he served as a pilot and division officer with Helicopter Anti-submarine Squadron (HS) 15 aboard USS Nimitz (CVN 68); Personnel Exchange Program pilot with Canadian Forces Helicopter Anti-submarine Squadron (HS) 423, serving as Detachment Commander aboard HMCS Athabaskan (DDH 282); operations officer of Helicopter Anti-submarine Squadron (HS) 5 aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69); and executive officer and commanding officer of Helicopter Anti-submarine Squadron (HS) 4 “Helicopters from Hell” aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), deploying in support of Operation Earnest Will (Arabian Gulf). He next served as Navigator aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) and deployed to the Persian Gulf for Operation Desert Storm (Iraq). Selected for ship command, he commanded USS El Paso (LKA 117) and deployed to the Indian Ocean and North Arabian Sea for Operation Restore Hope (Somalia). He then reported to USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) as executive officer and subsequently as commanding officer, deploying to the Mediterranean for NATO Operation Deny Flight (Bosnia).
His shore tours include flight instructor pilot duty with Helicopter Anti-submarine Squadron (HS) 1; studies and graduation from the Naval War College; staff duties with the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Air Warfare); command of Helicopter Anti-submarine Squadron (HS) 1; and as a fellow with the Secretary of Defense Strategic Studies Group.
Flag assignments include service as Commander U.S. Naval Forces Korea and Naval Component Commander, United Nations Command in Seoul, Republic of Korea; Commander Navy Region Mid-Atlantic; and Director of Ashore Readiness on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV N-46).
His personal awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit (four awards), Meritorious Service Medal (four awards); and Navy Commendation Medal.
Since retirement from the Navy, Rear Admiral Cole worked in the private sector as a consultant to the defense industry. He has also served with several non-profit organizations and is currently the President of the Navy Safe Harbor Foundation in Alexandria, Virginia and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Military Bowl in Washington, D.C.

Fair Winds and Following Seas Admiral!