Thomas B. Hayward

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For the American politician, see Thomas B. Hayward (politician).

Thomas B. Hayward
Combat V
Distinguished Flying Cross

Admiral Thomas Bibb Hayward (May 3, 1924 – March 3, 2022) was Chief of Naval Operations for the United States Navy from July 1, 1978, until June 30, 1982,[1] after which he retired from military service.

Naval career

Shortly after the commencement of World War II, Hayward 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

Combat "V" for Valor. One of Hayward's squadron mates in VF-51 was future astronaut Neil Armstrong, who became his lifelong friend.[4]

Following his Korean tour, Hayward became a Navy test pilot, a lead instructor in the forerunner to the Navy Fighter Weapons School, also known as

NASA Astronaut Group 1, but ultimately was not selected.[4]

In 1965–66, as Commander Carrier Air Wing Ten (CW-10), Hayward 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 a captain, Hayward returned to Vietnam as Commanding Officer of the USS Graffias (AF-29) and later as Commanding Officer of the USS America (CVA-66),[1] for which he was awarded the Legion of Merit.

Hayward then had tours of duty as commander of the

Commander in Chief of the United States Pacific Fleet from August 12, 1976, to May 9, 1978.[6]

As Chief of Naval Operations, Hayward is best remembered for his "Pride in the Navy" priority: the emphasis on rebuilding readiness of both active and reserve forces; restoring priority in mine warfare; and his success in the zero tolerance "Not in my Navy" drug program.

In 1981, he was awarded the Society of Experimental Test Pilots James H. Doolittle Award. In January 2007, the United States Naval Academy Alumni Association announced Admiral Thomas B. Hayward as one of four recipients of its 2007 Distinguished Graduate Award.

Corporate career and retirement

After retirement from the Navy, his primary efforts were in the field of education, where he helped co-found companies focused on reading and math solutions K-12, masters and doctorates in education, and both domestic and international distance learning for college and higher ed. He also served on the board of advisors of the Code of Support Foundation, a nonprofit military services organization.[7]

Death

Hayward died on March 3, 2022, at the age of 97 in Seattle, Washington.[8][9]

Awards and decorations

Bronze oak leaf cluster
 
Bronze star
Naval Aviator Badge
Defense Distinguished Service Medal with 1 bronze oak leaf cluster
award star
Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal
Combat V
and 2 award stars 		Distinguished Flying Cross
Strike/Flight numeral
3
Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal
with Combat V and award star 		Navy Unit Commendation with two bronze service stars
Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation
 China Service Medal American Campaign Medal
World War II Victory Medal Navy Occupation Service Medal National Defense Service Medal with 1 service star
Korean Service Medal with 4 service stars Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal Vietnam Service Medal with 8 service stars
Order of the Rising Sun, degree unknown (Japan) Order of the Cloud and Banner with Grand Cordon, 2nd Grade (Republic of China) Order of National Security Merit Gukseon Medal, 2nd Class (Republic of Korea)
National Order of Vietnam, Knight
Vietnam Gallantry Cross
with palm
Korean Presidential Unit Citation
Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation
United Nations Korea Medal
 Vietnam Campaign Medal
Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge

References

  1. ^ a b "Admiral Thomas B. Hayward". US Navy. Retrieved January 24, 2010.
  2. ^ "Thomas B. Hayward". US Naval Academy. Retrieved January 24, 2010.
  3. ^ "Thomas B. Hayward". Distinguished Flying Cross Society. Archived from the original on September 21, 2010. Retrieved January 24, 2010.
  4. ^
    ISBN 978-1-4419-8404-3
    .
  5. ^ "History". Commander, U.S. 7th fleet. Archived from the original on April 20, 2010. Retrieved January 24, 2010.
  6. ^ "U.S. Pacific Fleet Commanders". US Pacific Fleet. Archived from the original on December 7, 2009. Retrieved January 24, 2010.
  7. ^ "Code of Support Foundation advisory board". codeofsupportfoundation.org. Archived from the original on October 23, 2018. Retrieved June 5, 2017.
  8. ^ "Former CNO Thomas Hayward Remembered For Professionalizing Navy, Taking on Soviets". United States Naval Institute. March 4, 2022. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
  9. ^ Thomas Bibb Hayward obituary
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Military offices
Preceded by Chief of Naval Operations
1978–1982 		Succeeded by
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