Chief of Naval Operations

Thomas Hinman Moorer was born in Mount Willing, Alabama, on 9 February 1912. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1933. He was assigned to flight training at Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida, where he received his "wings" in July 1936.

Promoted to Lieutenant Commander in October 1942, and Commander in April 1944, Moorer served during the rest of World War II with Patrol Squadron 101 (VP-101), in a training assignment, as Commanding Officer of Bombing Squadron 132 (VB-132), and on the staff of the Atlantic Fleet's Air Force commander. As a Captain, from 1952 into 1958, Moorer attended the Naval War College, held a staff position with Commander Air Force, Atlantic Fleet, was Aide to the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Air) and commanded the seaplane tender Salisbury Sound.

Achieving Flag Rank in August 1958, Rear Admiral Moorer subsequently held several important planning positions in Washington, D.C., and commanded Carrier Division Six. He was promoted to Vice Admiral in October 1962 and led the Seventh Fleet until June 1964 when, with the rank of Admiral, he became Commander in Chief of the Pacific Fleet. While in that post, Moorer guided the Navy's initial Vietnam War operations. Between April 1965 and June 1967 he commanded the Atlantic Fleet, the U.S. Atlantic Command and North Atlantic Treaty Organization forces in that ocean.

From August 1967 to July 1970, Admiral Moorer served as Chief of Naval Operations and, in the latter month, became Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Admiral Moorer retired from Naval service at the beginning of July 1974. Thomas H. Moorer died on 5 February 2004 in Bethesda, Maryland.