RADM James McFarland’s biography follows:
Rear Admiral James Stephen McFarland
August 31, 1935 – February 1, 2003
A native of Portland, Oregon, Rear Admiral McFarland graduated from Lewis and Clark College. His Naval career began in 1953 when he enlisted in the Naval Reserve. As a Third Class Petty Officer (YN), he was commissioned in 1957. After Communications School in Newport, Rhode Island, he spent four years in Hawaii working in Signals Security and making training and communications readiness visits to over 200 U.S. Navy ships. Staff duty in Washington, D.C. with Commander Naval Security Group followed from 1961-1963. This was followed by operational assignments at Karamursel, Turkey, and on USS Belmont (AGTR 4) as the Special Operations Officer.
In 1967, he left the Staff, U.S. Atlantic Fleet for Vietnam, where he served primarily in support of U.S. Marine Corp Forces in support of tactical ground operations. The Armed Forces Staff College was next followed by a tour as Middle East Operations Officer. In 1971, he became the first Office-In-Charge of the Navy’s Current Support Group (CSG) in Rota, Spain where the unit earned the Navy Unit Citation for its support of the U.S. SIXTH Fleet during the Yom Kippur War and the 1974 Cyprus crisis. He returned to the Staff, U.S. Atlantic Fleet from 1975 to 1979. His next assignment was as the Commanding Officer of the Naval Security Group Activity (NSGA) Misawa, Japan where he assumed command on 5 March 1979.
In 1981, Rear Admiral McFarland assumed duty as Chief, Naval Forces Division, at the National Security Agency (NSA); and in 1983, was assigned as the Assistant Chief of Staff for Cryptology, Commander U.S. Pacific Fleet; Director, Naval Security Group Pacific (DIRNSGPAC). Early in 1985, he was selected for Flag Rank. His last assignment was as Commander of the Naval Security Group Command (CNSG) from August 1986 to July 1990. Rear Admiral McFarland was also assigned as the Deputy Director of Naval Intelligence (DNI) for the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO).
Some of his personal decorations include the Bronze Star with Combat distinguishing device, Meritorious Service Medals and the Joint Service Commendation Medal.
RADM McFarland was married to the former Paula Ann Wiise of Macon, Georgia for twenty-five years. He has six children, Scott, Brett, Suzanne, Jeffrey, Matthew, and Kelly. Mrs. Paula McFarland resides in Annapolis, Maryland.
Admiral McFarland was a kind and generous man who is missed and remembered with fond memories.
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Bronze Star with Combat-V- and Navy Combat Action Medal
In a brief ceremony at the Headquarters, Naval Security Group Command on 25 July 1969, the following citation was read to all assembled:
“The President of the United States of America hereby bestows to LCDR James S. McFarland, United States Navy, the Bronze Star with “V” Distinguishing Device (second award) and the Navy Combat Action Medal. The citation reads as follows:
On 13 April, 1969, Lieutenant Commander McFarland was assigned as liaison officer to the Fifth Special Forces Unit, THUONG DUC SFC, Vietnam. At approximately 1100 hours on the morning of the 13th, the camp was taken under intensive and extremely accurate mortar and rocket attack. Heavy casualties were inflicted on friendly forces within the first few minutes of the attack and within ten minutes seventy per cent casualties were suffered.
As the attack intensified, the enemy began preparations for a frontal assault of battalion size. The battle raged for over six hours with all perimeters subjected to heavy attack, including hand-to-hand fighting. During this action, LCDR McPARLAND distinguished himself by repeatedly rallying Vietnamese soldiers and directing effective zones of fire. Several times he left the relative safety of his perimeter bunker to assist In repulsing enemy infiltrators. On one such occasion he killed three enemy about to satchel charge the camp command bunker with automatic weapon fire and successfully turned back additional attackers with grenades.
LCDR McFarland’s valor under fire is hereby awarded by presentation of the Bronze Star with “V” (second award) and the Navy Combat Action Medal.”
Certified this 25th day of July 1969
William B. Clarey
Admiral United States Navy
Station HYPO 
31 August 2020 at 13:47
Thank you Mario for this excellent and meaningful post. Admiral McFarland was a man among men, who displayed outstanding leadership and courage. He was rugged, but also kind and compassionate. He personified the character that we esteem, and all hope to achieve in all our own individual ways. God bless him always, and his family too.
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31 August 2020 at 14:02
This was a great story about a great man. As always, I thoroughly enjoyed reading your posts but this one seemed to resonate with me. Thank you again.
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31 August 2020 at 19:41
My first interaction with RADM McFarland was in Hawaii when he (as a Captain) was ACS For Cryptology to Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet & DIRNSGPAC and I (as a LtCol) was the staff Cryptologist for CG, FMFPAC. We had some lively “discussions” on Doctrinal issues on the use of Cryptology in support of Operational Commanders USMC vs. USN policies. I was surprised when shortly after I assumed duties as Commanding Officer, Marine Support Battalion/Marine Assistant to CNSG who should arrive as CNSG but RADM McFarland.
Our professional discussions continued but rather than a Navy counterpart whom I could disagree and argue with, he was now my boss. He had each department prepare a briefing on our department to give to visitors to NSG Headquarters. Part of the Mission Statement for MarSptBn was “To participate in DON Cryptologic activities”, and as part of my briefing, I pointed out that Marines invented Cryptology but we couldn’t afford the overhead so we turned it over to the Navy and we just “participated.” In one briefing where RADM McFarland sat in on, I heard a loud “Bull Shit” after my statement on Marines inventing Cryptology.
I also remember him asking me to stay behind after a Department Head meeting in his office to discuss some other matters. Over some coffee, I opined that there were three good parts to the Navy and he asked what they were. I stated the first good part was the Navy SeaBees who build things for the Marines to which nodded agreement. I said the next good part was the Navy Corpsman who patched us up when we were wounded to which he again agreed. Then I said the third good part was the Navy Chaplain who, if the Corpsman ever failed to do his job, sent us on our way to Valhalla. Then I pointed to the star on his sleeve and said; “Admiral, you’re none of those.” His response was; “Get out of my office Brown and never come back.”
Of course I was invited back many times after. He was a true professional, a great leader and a gentleman. He left us too soon and will be missed by many.
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31 August 2020 at 20:05
I was a young CT chief when RADM McFarland visited NSGA Keflavik. We were such a small group that social functions included the wardroom and the chiefs. I would never have called him this, but I was flooded when he shook my hand and introduced himself as Jim.
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1 September 2020 at 13:36
Best COMNAVSECGRU ever. Peiod
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2 September 2020 at 01:36
Wonderful obituary and comments. Wish I’d known the admiral!
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5 December 2020 at 01:10
My Dad, CWO4 Cliff Leach served with Rdml McFarland on USS Belmont and Rota Spain. I played on the tennis team with Scott in Rota. When my Dad retired fm NSGA Skaggs Is, I was a Lt and recall how kind Rdml McFarland was to me and the special award given to my Dad, CWO4 Cliff Leach. I spent 30 years in service and recognise Rdml McFarland as a great naval officer and a good man. Fare winds and following seas shipmate. David J Leach, PhD., White Stone, Va.
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