This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Kent Weekly (SS/DSV) (DBF), EMCS
to remember
Raborn, William Francis, Jr., VADM USN(Ret).
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Contact Info
Home Town Decatur, TX
Last Address McLean, VA
Date of Passing Mar 07, 1990
Location of Interment U.S. Naval Academy Cemetery and Columbarium (VLM) - Annapolis, Maryland
VADM Raborn led the development of the Polaris nuclear missile while working in the Fleet ballistic Missile Program. After his retirement from the Navy, he was chosen to be the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency where he served from April 1965 until June 1966.
Other Comments:
Navy Distiguished Service Medal Awarded for Actions During Cold War
Service: Navy
General Orders: Board Serial 704 (August 5, 1960)
Citation: The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Distinguished Service Medal to Rear Admiral William F. Raborn, Jr. (NSN: 0-62102/1310), United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States from 2 December 1955 to 20 July 1960. In late 1955, Rear Admiral Raborn was charged with the task of developing a Fleet Ballistic Missile System. Exhibiting outstanding organizational ability and technical competence, he established the Special Projects Office, Department of the Navy, and directed his attention to the inauguration of definitive management methods which would provide not only the necessary degree of control but insure that expenditures would be in accord with budgetary considerations as well as the urgency of the program. He established a single yet forceful management system which encompassed all elements of his responsibility, implementing a totally new management tool - the Progress Evaluation Reporting Technique. The widespread adoption of this method of evaluating the progress of a complex research and development program by large sections of American industry reflects his keen perception and resourcefulness. Rear Admiral Raborn's dynamic leadership, enthusiasm and initiative were the motivating factors in the successful accomplishment of this important task when, on 20 July 1960, the U.S.S. GEORGE WASHINGTON (SSBN-598) proved the operational readiness of Fleet Ballistic Missile System by launching two POLARIS missiles from the ocean depths. This deterrent signaled an historic contribution to the military strength of the United States and attested to Rear Admiral Raborn's extraordinary executive methods by bringing the Fleet Ballistic Missile System into being in the short period of three and one-half years. His outstanding professional ability, leadership, and inspiring devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
World War II/Asiatic-Pacific Theater/Surrender of Japan, End of WWII
From Month/Year
August / 1945
To Month/Year
August / 1945
Description The surrender of the Empire of Japan was announced by Imperial Japan on August 15 and formally signed on September 2, 1945, bringing the hostilities of World War II to a close. By the end of July 1945, the Imperial Japanese Navy was incapable of conducting major operations and an Allied invasion of Japan was imminent. Together with the United Kingdom and China, the United States called for the unconditional surrender of the Japanese armed forces in the Potsdam Declaration on July 26, 1945—the alternative being "prompt and utter destruction". While publicly stating their intent to fight on to the bitter end, Japan's leaders (the Supreme Council for the Direction of the War, also known as the "Big Six") were privately making entreaties to the still-neutral Soviet Union to mediate peace on terms more favorable to the Japanese. Meanwhile, the Soviets were preparing to attack Japanese forces in Manchuria and Korea (in addition to southern Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands) in fulfillment of promises they had secretly made to the United States and the United Kingdom at the Tehran and Yalta Conferences.
