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Charles
Robert Larson
November 20, 1936
July 26,2014
Admiral
Charles R. Larson, U.S. Navy (Ret.) Admiral Larson had a distinguished 40 year
Navy career which included nearly 20 years as a Flag Officer and 19 years in
command positions, including experience across the spectrum of military,
leadership, management, education, political military affairs and government
policy. His senior command position was Commander-in-Chief of all United States
military forces in the Pacific where he was responsible for the readiness and
employment of 350.000 personnel in a theater that encompassed more than half the
globe. In this position he reported to the Secretary of Defense and the
President with responsibility for collective defense arrangements and
coordination with the 44 countries in the Pacific theater.
As a junior
officer, Admiral Larson served as a naval aviator in an aircraft carrier-based
squadron and later as a nuclear submariner. As a submarine officer, he served on
two ballistic missile submarines and three attack submarines, including command
of the nuclear attack submarine USS Halibut (SSN 587).
His other
sea commands include Submarine Development Group, which included the Navy's
worldwide deep submergence program; Submarine Group Eight, which included
command of all United States and NATO submarines m the Mediterranean Sea and all
United States anti-submarine warfare forces in that area; Commander Second
Fleet, including all operational ships in the Atlantic; Commander NATO Striking
Fleet Atlantic; and Commander-in-Chief, US Pacific Fleet, with all Navy and
Marine Corps forces in the Pacific.
In command
ashore, Admiral Larson served an unprecedented two tours as Superintendent, US
Naval Academy, the first from 1983-1986 and the second from 1994-1998. He also
was the first naval officer selected as a White House Fellow, serving in 1968 as
Special Assistant to the Secretary of the Interior. Following his fellowship, he
was assigned to the White House where he served for 2 1/2 years as Naval Aide to
the President of the United States
Admiral
Larson retired in 1998 after serving as an admiral for four Presidents. Since
retirement, he has served on corporate boards in the areas of defense,
aerospace, oil exploration and production, international service and
construction and the electric industry. His public service boards have included
the National Academy of Sciences Committee on International Security and Arms
Control, The White House Fellows Foundation, The Board of Regents of the
University System of Maryland, The Board of Trustees of the Anne Arundel Health
System, Board of Directors of the Atlantic Council, The Council on Higher
Education Accreditation and as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the US
Naval Academy Foundation.
His major
military decorations include:
·
The Defense Distinguished Service
Medal,
·
Seven awards of the Navy
Distinguished Service Medal,
·
Three awards of the Legion of
Merit and the Bronze Star Medal.
·
In addition, he has received
decorations from the governments of Japan, Korea, Thailand and France.
His civilian
awards include:
·
Paul Harris Fellow (Rotary
International's highest award for public service)
·
VFW National Armed Forces Award
(1993)
·
Navy League's Admiral Arleigh
Burke Leadership Award (1999)
·
Distinguished Eagle Scout (Boy
Scouts of America's highest award)
·
Nebraska land Foundation (State of
Nebraska) Wagonmaster Award for Leadership (1997)
·
"All American Citizen"
by the city of Omaha, Nebraska Omaha North High School Hall of Fame (1985)
·
The United States Naval Academy
Alumni Association's Distinguished Graduate Award (2006)
He and his
wife Sally have been married over 52 years and they have three grown daughters
and seven grandchildren.