Ridley McLean

In February 1900, McLean was assigned to the gunboat USS Marietta during the Reyes Rebellion in Nicaragua in February 1900. He was later attached to the staff of Rear Admiral Louis Kempff[3] aboard his flagship, USS Kentucky, on which he participated in Boxer Rebellion in 1900 and the Philippine insurrection during 1901–1902.

In 1902, Lieutenant McLean wrote The Bluejacket's Manual for the United States Naval Institute, a book intended to provide information useful to new recruits and be a reference for every person in Naval service. In 1903, he contributed a chapter titled "Practical Naval Gunnery" to the Text Book of Ordinance and Gunnery.

In 1904, he was assistant to LCDR William Sims, Inspector of target practice; in 1906 was given orders to report to the USS Virginia. This tour would be cut short upon receipt of new orders to the staff of the Commander in Chief of the Atlantic Fleet, Rear Admiral Charles S. Sperry.[4] Lieutenant Commander McLean was on the Admiral's flagship the USS Connecticut on its tour around the world in the Great White Fleet from 1907 to 1909. Following staff duty, McLean became Atlantic Fleet ordnance officer before assuming duties as the Executive Officer aboard the USS Florida.

In 1913, Commander McLean assumed what is normally a Captain billet as Judge Advocate General of the US Navy, a position which entitled him the rank of Captain in title only. He served in this role until December 1916, when he received orders to become Commanding Officer of the USS Columbia through May 1917.

When World War I broke out, Commander McLean served as Chief of Staff for the Battleship Force 1, Atlantic Fleet under VADM Albert Grant. In 1918, he was chosen to command the USS New Hampshire, escorting allied convoys.

His first command tour was cut short when he was assigned to command the USS Nebraska for a year beginning in September 1918.[5] At the same time he was permanently appointed to the rank of Captain. In 1919, he was stationed at the Army War College in Washington D.C.[6]

From June 1922 through April 1924, Captain McLean was CO of the USS Arkansas.[7] He became Director of Naval Communications in July 1924, and pioneered the use of shortwave radio communications when he authorized the experiment on board the USS Seattle on the 1925 cruise of Australia and New Zealand.

He was promoted to rear admiral in 1927 and assigned as Commander of Battleforce Submarines, using the submarine tender USS Holland as his flagship. Rear Admiral McLean fought for submarine sustainability and flexibility to fight long ways from home and for extended periods.