Verne Orr
| Verne Orr | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| 14th Secretary of the Air Force | |
|
In office 1981–1985 |
|
| President | Ronald Reagan |
| Preceded by | Hans Mark |
| Succeeded by | Russell A. Rourke |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
George Vernon Orr, Jr. November 12, 1916 Des Moines, Iowa, USA |
| Died | November 27, 2008 (aged 92) Pasadena, California, USA |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Joan Peak Orr (d. 1988) Sarah Smith Orr |
| Alma mater |
Pomona College (1937) Stanford University, MBA (1939) Claremont Graduate University, PhD (2005) |
| Occupation | Businessman, college dean |
| Awards |
Purple Heart DoD Distinguished Public Service Medal Army Distinguished Civilian Service Medal Navy Distinguished Public Service Medal USAF Exceptional Civilian Service Medal |
| Military service | |
| Service/branch | United States Navy Reserve |
| Years of service | 1942–1951 |
| Rank | Lieutenant Commander |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
Verne Orr (November 12, 1916 – November 27, 2008), born George Vernon Orr, Jr., was the 14th Secretary of the Air Force, appointed by President Ronald Reagan. From California, he was a businessman and educator who served in both state and national government positions.
Verne Orr was born on November 12, 1916 in Des Moines, Iowa. He grew up in the Midwest, then moved with his family to California just prior to entering high school.
He graduated from Pomona College in 1937 where he was awarded a Phi Beta Kappa key. He earned a master's degree in business administration from Stanford University in 1939.
Orr served in the United States Navy during World War II. In April 1942, he was called to active duty in the Navy Supply Corps. During the course of the war, Orr served in both the American and Pacific theaters of operations. He reached the rank of lieutenant prior to being released from active duty in November 1945. Orr continued to serve in the Navy Reserve until 1951 when he was honorably discharged as a lieutenant commander.
Following his release from active duty, Orr began working at his father's new car dealership in Pasadena, California, eventually becoming a partner in the business. Orr was active in the auto dealership from 1946 until 1962. However, Orr began shifting his interests into his family’s investment business around 1960. In 1963, he became president of Investors Savings and Loan of Pasadena, serving in that position until 1966.
In 1966, California’s governor, Ronald Reagan, selected Orr to be the director of the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles. He held that position until 1969. He then served briefly as the state's director of General Services before becoming California's Director of Finance in 1970, a position he held until 1975.
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