Ralph W. Cousins

For the U.S. Army Air Force general, see Ralph P. Cousins.

Ralph W. Cousins
US Navy photograph of Ralph Cousins
Born	July 24, 1915 (1915-07-24) Eldorado, Oklahoma
Died	Newport News, Virginia
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Navy
Years of service	1937-1975
Rank	Admiral
Battles/wars	World War II Vietnam War
Awards	Navy Cross, Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Air Medal
Other work	President of Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock

Ralph W. Cousins (July 24, 1915 – August 5, 2009) was a United States Navy four star admiral and aviator. As an aircraft carrier pilot, Cousins led dive-bomber attacks against the Imperial Japanese Navy at the Battle of the Coral Sea in May 1942 for which he was awarded the Navy Cross. During the Vietnam War from 1967–1969, Cousins commanded the attack carrier strike force of five carriers stationed off the coast of Vietnam. In 1970, Cousins was promoted to four star admiral and appointed Vice Chief of Naval Operations. From 1972 to 1975, he commanded the US Atlantic Fleet and NATO forces.

Cousins retired from the navy in 1975 and served as president and executive of Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock until 1979. He was promoted to President of Tenneco Europe based in London where he served with distinction from 1979 until his retirement in 1985. He died on August 5, 2009 from complications from a fall in Newport News, Virginia where he had lived since his retirement. His wife of 60 years, Mary McBride, had died in 2007. He left no immediate survivors.