Robert B. Pirie
Encyclopedia
Robert B. Pirie was a vice admiral in the United States Navy
. He was Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for air when he retired in 1962.
A native of Wymore, Nebraska
, he was a 1926 graduate of the United States Naval Academy
. He joined the Navy's air arm in 1928. In World War II
he was executive officer of the carrier in the Atlantic.
After the war he headed the aviation department at the Naval Academy and commanded two carriers, the and the , before assuming division and fleet commands. He was named Deputy Chief of Naval Operations in 1958, serving until his retirement.
In the 1950s, he was allowed to wear facial hair, unusual then, reportedly because of a skin condition. It was a distinguished-looking Van Dyke beard
.
While serving as Deputy Chief of Navy Operation (Air) 1958-1962 and was credited with maintaining the Navy’s air traffic controller program, following the enactment of the Federal Aviation Act of 1958
. The Air Traffic Controller of the Year award, named in honor of Vice Adm. Robert B. Pirie, is presented for outstanding contributions to operational readiness and safety applied by individual Navy and Marine Corps Air Traffic Controller.
After he left the Navy he held management positions with the Aerojet General Corporation. He was a former president of the Naval Academy Foundation and the Naval Air Museum in Pensacola, Florida
. He was inducted into the Naval Aviation Hall of Honor
in 1986.
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
. He was Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for air when he retired in 1962.
A native of Wymore, Nebraska
Wymore, Nebraska
Wymore is a city in Gage County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 1,656 at the 2000 census. Wymore was founded on April 7, 1881 on land donated by Sam Wymore as a railroad town...
, he was a 1926 graduate of the United States Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
. He joined the Navy's air arm in 1928. In World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he was executive officer of the carrier in the Atlantic.
After the war he headed the aviation department at the Naval Academy and commanded two carriers, the and the , before assuming division and fleet commands. He was named Deputy Chief of Naval Operations in 1958, serving until his retirement.
In the 1950s, he was allowed to wear facial hair, unusual then, reportedly because of a skin condition. It was a distinguished-looking Van Dyke beard
Van dyke beard
A Van Dyke is a style of facial hair named after 17th century Flemish painter Anthony van Dyck. A Van Dyke specifically consists of any growth of both a moustache and goatee with all hair on the cheeks shaven...
.
While serving as Deputy Chief of Navy Operation (Air) 1958-1962 and was credited with maintaining the Navy’s air traffic controller program, following the enactment of the Federal Aviation Act of 1958
Federal Aviation Act of 1958
The Federal Aviation Act of 1958 was an act of the United States Congress, , that created the Federal Aviation Agency and abolished its predecessor, the Civil Aeronautics Administration...
. The Air Traffic Controller of the Year award, named in honor of Vice Adm. Robert B. Pirie, is presented for outstanding contributions to operational readiness and safety applied by individual Navy and Marine Corps Air Traffic Controller.
After he left the Navy he held management positions with the Aerojet General Corporation. He was a former president of the Naval Academy Foundation and the Naval Air Museum in Pensacola, Florida
Pensacola, Florida
Pensacola is the westernmost city in the Florida Panhandle and the county seat of Escambia County, Florida, United States of America. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 56,255 and as of 2009, the estimated population was 53,752...
. He was inducted into the Naval Aviation Hall of Honor
Naval Aviation Hall of Honor
The United States Naval Aviation Hall of Honor, located at the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Florida, recognizes individuals "who by their actions or achievements made outstanding contributions to Naval Aviation." Since its inception in 1979, the Hall of Honor has enshrined 80 people...
in 1986.