Thomas B. Hayward
| Thomas B. Hayward | |
|---|---|
Admiral Thomas B. Hayward, 21st Chief of Naval Operations
|
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| Born |
May 3, 1924 Glendale, California |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/branch | United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1948–1982 |
| Rank |
 Admiral
|
| Commands held | Chief of Naval Operations |
| Awards |
Defense Distinguished Service Medal (2) Navy Distinguished Service Medal (3) Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal Legion of Merit (3) with Combat V Distinguished Flying Cross |
Admiral Thomas Bibb Hayward (born May 3, 1924) was Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) for the United States Navy from July 1, 1978, until June 30, 1982, after which he retired from military service. Shortly after the commencement of World War II, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy V-5 aviation program and was called to active duty as a naval aviation cadet in 1943, anticipating that he would shortly be flying combat in the South Pacific. However, when roughly halfway through the flight training syllabus, he competed for and was accepted to attend the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, to position himself for a career in the U.S. Navy at war's end. He graduated from the Academy in July, 1947 and was assigned to the USS Antietam (CV-36) as an engineering officer. United States Naval Academy.USS Antietam (CV-36), In 1949 he returned to flight training at Pensacola, Florida,and received his United States Naval Aviator wings in July 1950. The Korean War having begun, then as Lieutenant junior grade, he reported to Fighter Squadron Fifty-One (VF-51) and flew from the decks of the USS Essex (CV-9) and USS Valley Forge (CV-45), accumulating 146 combat missions and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, ten Air Medals, and two Navy Commendation Medals with Combat "V" for Valor.
Following his Korean tour, he became a Navy test pilot, a lead instructor in the forerunner to Top Gun, and Commanding Officer of Fighter Squadron One Hundred Three (VF-103), in addition to attending the Naval War College in 1958. In 1965-66, as Commander Carrier Air Wing ten (CW-10), he flew 36 combat missions in Vietnam,flying from the deck of USS Intrepid (CV-11) receiving the Legion of Merit and three Air Medals. In 1967 he attended the National War College and obtained a master's degree in Foreign Affairs from George Washington University. As Captain, Hayward returned to Vietnam as Commanding Officer USS Graffias (AF-29) and later as Commanding Officer USS America (CVA-66) for which he was awarded the Legion of Merit.
Before his appointment as CNO, the admiral had tours of duty as:
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