Hyman G. Rickover

For other uses, see Hyman G. Rickover (disambiguation).

Hyman G. Rickover
Rickover in 1955
Birth nameChaim Godalia Rickover
Nickname(s)"Father of the Nuclear Navy"; "The Kindly Old Gentleman," or simply "KOG"[1][2]
Born(1900-01-27)January 27, 1900[3]
Maków Mazowiecki, Vistula Land
DiedJuly 8, 1986(1986-07-08) (aged 86)[3]
Arlington County, Virginia, U.S.
AllegianceUnited States
Service/branchUnited States Navy
Years of service1918–1982
RankAdmiral
CommandsUSS Finch
Naval Reactors
Battles/warsWorld War II
AwardsNavy Distinguished Service Medal (3)
Legion of Merit (2)
Congressional Gold Medal (2)
Presidential Medal of Freedom
Enrico Fermi Award
Alma materUnited States Naval Academy
Columbia University (MSEE)
Spouse(s)Ruth D. Masters (1931–1972 (her death); 1 child)
Eleonore A. Bednowicz (1974–1986 (his death))

Hyman G. Rickover (January 27, 1900[3] – July 8, 1986) was an admiral in the United States Navy. He directed the original development of naval nuclear propulsion and controlled its operations for three decades as director of the U.S. Naval Reactors office. In addition, he oversaw the development of the Shippingport Atomic Power Station, the world's first commercial pressurized water reactor used for generating electricity. Rickover is also one of four people who have been awarded two Congressional Gold Medals.

Rickover is known as the "Father of the Nuclear Navy," and his influence on the Navy and its warships was of such scope that he "may well go down in history as one of the Navy's most important officers."[4] He served in a flag rank for nearly 30 years (1953 to 1982), ending his career as a four-star admiral. His years of service exceeded that of each of the U.S. Navy's five-star fleet admirals—Leahy, King, Nimitz and Halsey—all of whom served on active duty for life after their appointments. Rickover's total of 63 years of active duty service makes him the longest-serving naval officer, as well as the longest-serving member of the U.S armed forces in history.[5][3][6]

Having become a Naval engineering duty officer (EDO) in 1937 after serving as both a surface ship and submarine-qualified unrestricted line officer, his substantial legacy of technical achievements includes the United States Navy's continuing record of zero reactor accidents.[7][8]

  1. ^ "Rickover Is Forced To Retire". The Washington Post. November 14, 1981.
  2. ^ "Nuclear-Power Plants Would Be Better the Rickover Way". The New York Times. July 24, 1986.
  3. ^ a b c d "Admiral Hyman G. Rickover – Biography". History.navy.mil. Archived from the original on February 10, 2012. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
  4. ^ PhD dissertation, "Commanding Men and Machines: Admiralship, Technology, and Ideology in the 20th Century U.S. Navy," Hagerott, Mark (2004) http://drum.lib.umd.edu/bitstream/handle/1903/8525/umi-umd-5589.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
  5. ^ Allen, Thomas B.; Polmar, Norman (2007). Rickover. ISBN 978-1574887044. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference Lurie on Rickover was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ "Hyman G. Rickover".
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference bowman was invoked but never defined (see the help page).