Namesake:
Admiral Hyman G. Rickover
Admiral Rickover, the Father of the Nuclear Navy, was born
in Makow, Russia (which is now Poland) on January 27, 1900. At
the age of six, he emigrated with his parents to the United
States, settling in Chicago, Illinois. Admiral Rickover entered
the U.S. Naval Academy in 1918 and was commissioned an ensign in
June 1922.
Following sea duty aboard USS LA VALLETTE (DD-315) and USS
NEVADA (BB-36), Admiral Rickover attended Columbia University,
where he earned the degree of Master of Science in Electrical
Engineering. From 1929 to 1933, he qualified for submarine duty
and command aboard the submarines S-9 and S-48. In June 1937, he
assumed command of USS FINCH. Later that year, he was selected
as an Engineering Duty Officer and spent the remainder of his
career serving in that specialty.
During World War II, Admiral Rickover served as Head of
the Electrical Section of the Bureau of Ships and later as
Commanding Officer of the Naval Repair Base, Okinawa. In 1946,
he was assigned to the Atomic Energy Commission laboratory at
Oak Ridge, Tennessee and, in early 1949, to the Division of
Reactor Development, U.S. Atomic Energy Commission.
As director of the Naval Reactors Branch, Admiral Rickover
developed the world's first nuclear powered submarine, USS
NAUTILUS (SSN 571), which went to sea in 1955. In the years that
followed, Admiral Rickover directed all aspects of building and
operating the nuclear fleet.
Admiral Rickover's numerous medals and decorations include
the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Navy
Commendation Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal. In
recognition of his wartime service, he was made Honorary
Commander of the Military Division of the Most Excellent Order
of the British Empire.
Admiral Rickover was twice awarded the Congressional Gold
Medal for exceptional public service. In 1980, President Jimmy
Carter presented Admiral Rickover with the Presidential Medal of
Freedom, the nation's highest non-military honor, for his
contributions to world peace.
Admiral Rickover retired from the United States Navy on
January 31, 1982, after over 63 years of service to his country
and to 13 Presidents. His name is memorialized in the attack
submarine USS HYMAN G. RICKOVER (SSN 709) and Rickover Hall at
the U.S. Naval Academy. Admiral Rickover died on July 8, 1986
and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
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