John Warner

John Warner
Official portrait, c. 1980
United States Senator from Virginia
In office January 2, 1979 – January 3, 2009
Preceded by	William L. Scott
Succeeded by	Mark Warner
Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee
In office January 3, 2003 – January 3, 2007
Preceded by	Carl Levin
Succeeded by	Carl Levin
In office January 3, 1999 – June 6, 2001
Preceded by	Strom Thurmond
Succeeded by	Carl Levin
Chairman of the Senate Rules Committee
In office September 12, 1995 – January 3, 1999
Preceded by	Ted Stevens
Succeeded by	Mitch McConnell
61st United States Secretary of the Navy
In office May 4, 1972 – April 8, 1974
President	Richard Nixon
Preceded by	John Chafee
Succeeded by	J. William Middendorf
United States Under Secretary of the Navy
In office February 11, 1969 – May 4, 1972
President	Richard Nixon
Preceded by	Charles F. Baird
Succeeded by	Frank P. Sanders
Personal details
Born	John William Warner III (1927-02-18)February 18, 1927 Washington, D.C., U.S.
Died	May 25, 2021(2021-05-25) (aged 94) Alexandria, Virginia, U.S.
Resting place	Arlington National Cemetery
Political party	Republican
Spouses	Catherine Mellon ​ ​ (m. 1957; div. 1973)​ Elizabeth Taylor ​ ​ (m. 1976; div. 1982)​ Jeanne Vander Myde ​ (m. 2003)​
Children	3
Education	Washington and Lee University (BA) George Washington University University of Virginia (LLB)
Awards	Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Signature
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Navy  United States Marine Corps
Years of service	1945–1946 1950–1953
Rank	Petty Officer (third class) (Navy) Captain (Marines)
Unit	1st Marine Aircraft Wing
Battles/wars	World War II Korean War
John Warner's voice Warner's speech on the Senate floor a day after the September 11 attacks Recorded September 12, 2001

John William Warner III (February 18, 1927 – May 25, 2021) was an American lawyer and politician who served as the United States Secretary of the Navy from 1972 to 1974 and as a five-term Republican U.S. Senator from Virginia from 1979 to 2009, and is both the longest serving Republican Senator from Virginia, and the second longest serving Senator from Virginia behind Democrat Harry F. Byrd. He served as chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee from 1999 to 2001, and from 2003 to 2007. Warner also served as the chairman of the Senate Rules Committee from 1995 to 1999.

Warner was a veteran of the Second World War and Korean War, and was one of five World War II veterans serving in the Senate at the time of his retirement.^[1] He did not seek reelection in 2008. After leaving the Senate, he worked for the law firm of Hogan Lovells, where he had previously been employed before joining the United States Department of Defense as the Under Secretary of the Navy during the presidency of Richard Nixon in 1969.

As of 2025, Warner is the last Republican to represent Virginia in the Senate, as well the only Republican Senator from Virginia to serve more than one term.