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Contact Info
Home Town Roswell, NM
Last Address Born in Oklahoma and raised in Roswell NM. Retired to: Solana Beach, California. Inurnment at the U.S. Naval Academy Columbarium.
Date of Passing Jan 09, 2014
Location of Interment U.S. Naval Academy Cemetery and Columbarium (VLM) - Annapolis, Maryland
Vice Admiral Patrick J. Hannifin, U.S.N. Ret. Director of the Joint Staff - Commandant 13th Naval District - Commander Submarines Mediterranean
Patrick J. Hannifin (January 26, 1923 – January 9, 2014) was an American Navy Vice Admiral.
Hannifin was born in 1923 in Oklahoma to Steven Patrick and Elizabeth (née Flanagan) Hannifin. He attended the New Mexico Military Institute prior to going to the United States Naval Academy, in which he graduated in 1944. Hannifin served in World War II on the submarine USS Balao (SS-285) and served in three war combat patrols, and after the war he served on the captured German submarine U-858 and eventually held commands of the USS Diodon (SS-349), USS George Washington (SSBN-598), USS Lafayette (SSBN-616) as well as Submarine Squadron 15, in 1968, which he was given responsibility for all the Polaris submarines in the Pacific Fleet in Guam.
From September 1969 to October 1971, following his promotion to rear admiral, Hannifin served as Commandant of the Thirteenth Naval District. Other flag posts he served included commanding Submarine Group Eight in Naples, Italy, Commander of Submarine Flotilla Eight, as well as Commander Submarines Mediterranean, which he took charge of the NATO submarine forces. He returned to Washington, D.C. in 1973 when he served in multiple positions within the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Following a promotion in 1976 to vice admiral for him to assume the position of Director of Plans and Policy for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in 1977, Hannifin was given the position of Director of the Joint Staff. He served in this capacity until his retirement in 1978.
Vice Admiral Hannifin was a recipient of the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit with two Gold Stars, and the Navy Commendation Medal with one Gold Star and a 'V' for VALOR device.
In retirement Hannifin lived in Solana Beach, California and served as president of HANESCO, Co., in the oil and gas industry. He was married to Mary (née Snyder), whom he married July 12, 1944. They had 3 children. One son, Steven Patrick II also served in the United States Navy. He has also served as a consultant on naval matters that include submarines, appearing on television and news panels to provide analysis on current matters. He also possesses a business degree, which he obtained from George Washington University in 1968.
Other Comments:
A man of surprising talents, VAdm Hannifin, also managed to fit in travel to Rome and Malta with his new-found Hollywood friends when he was hired as the Technical Advisor for the motion picture U-571. Subsequently, the television industry called upon him for technical expertise and commentary as they covered the loss of the Russian submarine Kursk. He was inducted into the New Mexico Military Institute's Hall of Fame in 1985; in 2012, the Naval Submarine League honored VADM Hannifin with their Distinguished Submariner Award.
Chain of Command After completing Navy Nuclear Power Training, VADM Hannifin served as the commissioning Executive Officer of the Navy's first Fleet Ballistic Missile submarine, USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (SSBN- 598); he was then selected as the first Commanding Officer of USS LAFAYETTE (SSBN-616) 1961-1965.
Other Memories
Lafayette's keel was laid down on 17 January 1961 by the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics in Groton, Connecticut. She was launched 8 May 1962, sponsored by First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, wife of John F. Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States, and commissioned 23 April 1963 at Groton, Connecticut, with Commander P. J. Hannifin in command of the Blue Crew and Commander James T. Strong in command of the Gold Crew.
Hannifin was born in 1923 in Oklahoma to Steven Patrick and Elizabeth (née Flanagan) Hannifin. He attended the New Mexico Military Institute prior to going to the United States Naval Academy, in which he graduated in 1944. Hannifin served in World War II on the submarine USS Balao (SS-285) and served in three war combat patrols, and after the war he served on the captured German submarine U-858 and eventually held commands of the USS Diodon (SS-349), USS George Washington (SSBN-598), USS Lafayette (SSBN-616) as well as Submarine Squadron 15, in 1968, which he was given responsibility for all the Polaris submarines in the Pacific Fleet in Guam.
