Navy

Admiral Hyman George Rickover, U.S. Navy, was known as the “Father of the Nuclear Navy”, which as of July 2007 had produced 200 nuclear-powered submarines, and 23 nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and cruisers, though many of these U.S. vessels are now decommissioned and others under construction.

With his unique personality, political connections, responsibilities and depth of knowledge regarding naval nuclear propulsion, Rickover became the longest-serving active duty military officer in U.S. history with 63 years of continuous service.  Rickover’s substantial legacy of technical achievements includes the U.S. Navy’s continuing record of zero reactor accidents, as defined by the uncontrolled release of fission products subsequent to reactor core damage.

He was born in Russian Poland in 1900 to Rachel, nee Unger, and Abraham Rickover, a tailor who brought his family to Chicago. After completing high school in 1918, Rickover received an appointment to the United States Naval Academy, where he was often confronted with anti-Semitism. He graduated in 1922 and was commissioned an ensign. Assigned to sea duty, he remained there for five years before being assigned to the Naval Academy to do graduate work in electrical engineering. He continued his studies at Columbia University where he received his M.S. degree in 1929.

Read more about Admiral Hyman George Rickover...

Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy (Ret.)

In April of this year, the United States Naval Academy’s Alumni Association honored Rear Admiral (ret) Robert H. Wertheim with its Distinguished Graduate Award.  Wertheim, graduated with distinction from the class of 1946.  Immediately after graduation he served aboard destroyers in both the Atlantic and Pacific fleets.

In 1947, he was a member of the Navy’s first nuclear weapons assembly team at Sandia Base.  He later served in the guided missile test ship USS Norton Sound and in the heavy cruiser USS Los Angeles.

Wertheim played a central role in the conception, development, production and operational support of the submarine-launched fleet ballistic missile systems Polaris, Poseidon and Trident, which became the nation’s most secure and effective deterrent to nuclear war.

Rear Admiral Wertheim has been a prime mover in the program to build the Uriah Levy Jewish Chapel at the Naval Academy, scheduled to be inaugurated in July.

You can read more about Rear Admiral Wertheim in the official USNA Distinguished Graduate Award Announcement (PDF).