Chaplain (Rear Admiral) John Richard McNamara,[1] USN (September 4, 1927 – April 16, 2001) was an American Navy officer who served as the 17th Chief of Chaplains of the United States Navy from 1985 to 1988.

He was awarded the Bronze Star for service with the U.S. Marine Corps in Vietnam.

He was ordained to the priesthood for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston by Archbishop Richard Cushing on January 10, 1952.

[4] McNamara was commissioned in the United States Naval Reserve on May 7, 1962.

He ministered to the 3rd Marine Division in Okinawa and Vietnam from June 1965 to March 1966.