Poindexter Retirement Approved; Navy Delays Decision on His Rank

Navy Secretary James H. Webb on Friday granted the request of Rear Adm. John M. Poindexter, President Reagan’s former national security adviser, to retire next Thursday, but he delayed a final decision on the rank at which Poindexter may leave until completion of a criminal inquiry into his role in the Iran- contra affair.

The Navy said in a brief statement that Poindexter would be retired initially at the two-star rank of rear admiral.

Poindexter, 51, asked to retire from active duty late last month and a friend said he wanted to leave the service “with his head held high” and before any Iran-contra indictments are returned.

At the time, Pentagon sources said Poindexter had also asked to retire with the three-star rank of vice admiral, which he held while working at the White House, rather than the two-star rear admiral’s rank he was reduced to upon leaving his post.

Poindexter resigned his national security post last November, when details of the Iran-contra affair were first disclosed.

Poindexter made the request to retire at the higher rank “as a matter of principle,” believing he was entitled to the extra star in retirement because of his service in a three-star job at the White House, one source said.

According to the Navy, a two-star rear admiral with 29 years of service such as Poindexter can retire with a pension of $52,764 a year. A three-star vice admiral with the same service can retire with a pension of $53,016 a year.