The Old Goat decanter in the possession of Admiral Mark Ferguson, Class of 1978.Admiral Harry Harris accepts the Old Goat decanter from retired Admiral Cecil Haney in April 2017.
In United States Naval Academy terminology, the Old Goat is the longest-serving Naval Academy graduate on active duty.[1][2] Since 2014, the designation has been accompanied by an award created by a previous Old Goat, Rear Admiral Alton L. Stocks. The award – a crystal decanter engraved with the initials and class years of previous holders – is passed to a new Old Goat upon the current holder's retirement.[3][4] There have been nine Old Goats so awarded, each after more than 35 years' service to the U.S. Navy.
The Naval Academy's Class of 1978 was just the fourth USNA class to produce four full (four-star) admirals; each was recognized as the Old Goat.[11][12]