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Steven Loomis (SaigonShipyard), IC3
to remember
Baciocco, Albert J., Jr. (Al), VADM USN(Ret).
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Contact Info
Home Town San Francisco, CA
Last Address Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
Date of Passing May 22, 2015
Location of Interment U.S. Naval Academy Cemetery and Columbarium (VLM) - Annapolis, Maryland
Vice Admiral (SS) Albert Baciocco, Jr., USN (Ret.)
Admiral Baciocco was Chairman of the Cold War Submarine Memorial Foundation,
the driving force in establishing the memorial by that name at the Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum.Â
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Vice Admiral Albert Joseph Baciocco, Jr. graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1953, where he received a Bachelor of Science in engineering and later completed graduate level studies in the field of nuclear engineering as part of his training in the naval nuclear propulsion program. He served as Chief of Naval Research from 1978-1981 and as the Director of Research, Development, and Acquisition from 1983-1987. Upon retirement, he established the Baciocco Group, Inc., a technical and management consulting practice and has since been engaged in a broad range of business and pro bono activities with industry, government, and academe, including memberships on the Naval Studies Board and the Army Science Board. He has also provided his time to serving on the Boards of Directors of several corporations, both public and private. He is a Trustee of the South Carolina Research Authority, and serves as a Director of the Foundation for Research Development at the Medical University of South Carolina. Vice Admiral Baciocco has been designated a lifetime National Associate of the National Academies by the Council of the National Academies of Sciences.
Other Comments:
Vice Admiral Baciocco was born in San Francisco, California, on March 4, 1931. He graduated from Lowell High School and was accepted into Stanford University prior to entering the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, in June 1949. He graduated from the Naval Academy in June 1953 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering, and completed graduate level studies in the field of nuclear engineering in 1958 as part of his training for the naval nuclear propulsion program.
Admiral Baciocco served initially in the heavy cruiser USS SAINT PAUL (CA-73) during the final days of the Korean War, and then in the diesel submarine USS WAHOO (SS-565) until April of 1957 when he became one of the early officer selectees for the Navy's nuclear submarine program. After completion of his nuclear training, he served in the commissioning crews of three nuclear attack submarines: USS SCORPION (SSN-589), as Main Propulsion Assistant (1959-1961); USS BARB (SSN-596), as Engineer Officer (1961-1962), then as Executive Officer (1963- 1965); and USS GATO (SSN-615), as Commanding Officer (1965-1969). Subsequent at-sea assignments, all headquartered in Charleston, South Carolina, included COMMANDER SUBMARINE DIVISION FORTY-TWO (1969-1971), where he was responsible for the operational training readiness of six SSNs; COMMANDER SUBMARINE SQUADRON FOUR (1974-1976), where he was responsible for the operational and material readiness of fifteen SSNs; and COMMANDER SUBMARINE GROUP SIX (1981-1983), where, during the height of the Cold War, he was accountable for the overall readiness of a major portion of the Atlantic Fleet submarine force, including forty SSNs, 20 SSBNs, and various other submarine force commands totaling approximately 20,000 military personnel, among which numbered some forty strategic submarine crews. During this period, in 1982, he served additionally as COMMANDER NAVAL BASE CHARLESTON.
Commencing in 1971, Admiral Baciocco also served ashore in senior technical and management positions within Department of the Navy headquarters in the fields of submarine warfare, antisubmarine warfare, financial management, science and technology, and acquisition. Initially assigned to the Chief of Naval Operations staff within the submarine warfare directorate, he was selected as Executive Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Financial Management) and so served until 1974. In 1976, he returned to the Chief of Naval Operations staff and, upon selection to Flag rank in early 1977, became the division director responsible for all matters related to Navy attack submarines and deep submergence systems, including policy, planning, and budgeting for force structure, readiness, modernization, and the supporting infrastructure.
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In 1978, the President of the United States nominated and the Senate confirmed Admiral Baciocco as Chief of Naval Research. In this position, he was the responsible official and principal interface with academe for the execution of the Navy's basic research program. He also was responsible for management oversight of the government- sponsored Independent Research & Development conducted by the defense industry. Subsequently assigned additional duty as Deputy Chief of Naval Material (Technology), he established the Office of Naval Technology and effectively became the Navy's Chief Technology Officer, directing the planning and execution of the entire technology base program for the Department of the Navy, then an $800 million annual investment in basic research and exploratory development being conducted in academe, industry and government laboratories. Admiral Baciocco served as Chief of Naval Research until June 1981.
In 1983, Admiral Baciocco was promoted to the rank of Vice Admiral and appointed as Director, Research, Development, Test and Evaluation in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. In this position, he was the Navy Department principal for all research and development, test and evaluation, and acquisition matters. He was responsible for a budget in excess of $10 billion, directing the process and policies that governed the Navy's science and technology programs, the Navy RDT&E infrastructure, and Navy acquisition programs during a period of intense Navy buildup. He was the principal Navy interface with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and a principal advisor on issues related to technology transfer and transition, and to U. S. industrial and manufacturing preparedness as it related to national security and defense. In addition, he served as the Navy's senior military interface with NATO and other allied governments, and with the defense industry for a broad range of technology transfer initiatives and cooperative research and development programs.Â
"HOLLAND CLUB MEMBER"Â United States Submarine Veterans Inc. (USSVI). The Admiral was sub qualified, July 1956, on board the USS Wahoo SS-565. He was listed as a member of the Holland Club (50+ years Submarine Qualified). He was killed in an automobile accident on 22 May, 2015. Admiral Baciocco is currently on Eternal Patrol.Â
USNA Class of 1953 - LUCKY BAG: ALBERT JOSEPH BACIOCCO, JR. San Francisco, California AI "If it's not the biggest and the best, it's not from California." Baciocco came to USNA from San Francisco. From the "Golden Gate City" he brought an enduring sense of humor and a lot of sailing knowledge — the latter he has put to good use sailing of the Light and the Royono. After a lengthy stretch at playing "Red Mike," Al re-joined the ranks of the occasional draggers. Not quite a slash, although he could be considered "determined," he always seemed to have the academics well under control. Terrific with a trombone in a jam session, bang-up with adjectives in a bull session, Al's ready smile with his ability and tenacity make him a sure fire "jet boy."
Other Memories
Vice Admiral Baciocco was born in San Francisco, California, on March 4, 1931. He graduated from Lowell High School and was accepted into Stanford University prior to entering the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, in June 1949. He graduated from the Naval Academy in June 1953 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering, and completed graduate level studies in the field of nuclear engineering in 1958 as part of his training for the naval nuclear propulsion program.
"HOLLAND CLUB MEMBER" United States Submarine Veterans Inc. (USSVI). The Admiral was sub qualified, July 1956, on board the USS Wahoo SS-565. He was listed as a member of the Holland Club (50+ years Submarine Qualified). He was killed in an automobile accident on 22 May, 2015. Admiral Baciocco is currently on Eternal Patrol. 
