Wayne E. Meyer
Wayne E. Meyer | |
---|---|
Navy Distinguished Service Medal | |
Spouse(s) | Margaret (deceased) Anna Mae |
Children | 5 |
Other work | Consultant |
Early childhood
Wayne E. Meyer was born to Eugene and Nettie Meyer in Brunswick, Missouri, on April 21, 1926. His first four years of school were in Warden District School (eight grades in one room with a wood stove) under Helen Duncan. His father and family were livestock and grain farmers, plowing the land referred to by locals as the "gumbo". Meyer's father Eugene was displaced in the drought and the Great Depression and lost everything in 1935. He and his family of four children moved eleven miles into clay country five miles North of Brunswick. Wayne and siblings were enrolled in St. Boniface Catholic School, a 2-room schoolhouse. Sister Mary Joann was his teacher for the next four years with grades five through eight combined in one room.
Enrolled in the 140-pupil Brunswick High School in 1939, his primary teacher (and principal) was Miss Edith Marston. Under her tutelage, he and three other boys had been prepared by her to take a three-day Armed Services competitive exam in January 1943, which all passed. In April they were called to Kansas City to examine their physical fitness for enlistment in a competitive college program created by President Roosevelt, called the V-12 in the Navy. Meyer passed the exam.
Education
Meyer graduated from the
Early career
He enlisted in the
Meyer was enrolled in the University's Engineering School as his primary duty. He completed eight semesters towards his bachelor's degree on February 1, 1946. Later that month the Navy ordered the remainder of that Naval Unit (only 35 out of approximately 500 originally) to be commissioned as Ensign USNR, and the University awarded him a B.S. in
Over the next two decades he served in the occupation forces in Japanese and in Chinese waters. His ship, the light gun
Later, he returned to Monterey to study
Later career
In 1963, Navy Secretary
In 1970, he was recalled to Washington and reported to the Naval Ordnance Systems Command as Manager, Aegis Weapon System. The Aegis project was begun by the Navy as the Advanced Surface Missile System (ASMS). Following the cancellation of the Typhon project, the Navy began work on ASMS to arm the fleet against the advanced Soviet air threats expected in the 1960s and 1970s. After receiving seven concept proposals from arms makers, the Navy Secretary recalled retired RADM Frederic S. Withington (a former Chief of the Bureau of Ordnance) to active duty to recommend one for development.
Withington delivered a report to the Secretary on May 15, 1965, recommending a phased array S-Band radar to search and track air targets, six slaved X-band radars for illumination and fire control, a digital control system compatible with the Naval Tactical Data System, a standard missile that could be directed in flight, and a dual-rail launcher. The report also recommended choosing a prime contractor to develop the system and improving existing missiles.
In 1969, RCA was awarded a contract to begin development. Meyer arrived in 1970, a leader experienced in system development, familiar with current fleet problems, and savvy enough to deal with the Navy and DoD hierarchy to see the project through to completion.
He insisted upon rigorous system engineering discipline throughout the project, and spent considerable effort ensuring that all participants understood what the system was required to do, and what their role was. Key to specifying and measuring system performance was the development of the three functional cornerstones (Detect, Control, Engage) and the five operational cornerstones:
- Reaction Time
- Firepower
- Electronic Countermeasure and Environmental Immunity
- Continuous Availability
- Area Coverage
Meyer's philosophy of "Build a Little, Test a Little, Learn a Lot" drove the testing and milestones of the Aegis system. Having witnessed problems with existing missile systems related to a lack of testing, tests that incorporated too many objectives, and failed system integration efforts requiring massive "get well" programs, he drove the project to conduct numerous tests in development and in delivery of production gear prior to ship installation.
Meyer was also named Project Manager (the final one) for Surface Missile Systems in 1972, and in July 1974 he was named the first Director of Surface Warfare, in the new
The design of the first Aegis-equipped ships, the
A second class of Aegis ship began with concept studies in 1978. The class was to replace the aging
In September 1983, Meyer was reassigned as Deputy Commander, Weapons and Combat Systems, Naval Sea Systems Command. He retired from active duty in 1985. In 1985 the American Society of Naval Engineers presented him with the Society’s Harold E. Saunders Award for lifetime contributions to naval engineering
Following the commissioning of USS Ticonderoga, Meyer attended every commissioning of an Aegis ship.[citation needed]
Recent history
Rear Admiral Meyer ran a consultancy with offices in
RADM Meyer is one of a handful of persons to have a ship named in his honor while still alive. The Chief of Naval Operations announced on November 27, 2006, that USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG-108) is named in his honor. She is the 85th Aegis ship to be constructed and wields the 100th Aegis system to be delivered to the Navy. She was christened on October 18, 2008, at Bath Iron Works in Maine. Christening speakers included Maine Senators Olympia Snowe & Susan Collins, Maine Congressmen Tom Allen and Michael Michaud, Maine Governor John Baldacci, Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Gary Roughead, Assistant Secretary of the Navy Sean Stackley, Bath Iron Works president Dugan Shipway, and Rear Admiral Meyer.
Admiral Meyer died on September 1, 2009, and was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery on September 17, 2009. The ship named in his honor was commissioned on October 10, 2009, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[5]
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Pulling the plug to de-energize the 100th Aegis Weapons System to be delivered the Navy November 27, 2006
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Christening party at the USS Wayne E. Meyer Christening at Bath Iron Works October 18, 2008
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Stern view of the USS Wayne E. Meyer prior to launching October 18, 2008
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View of USS Wayne E. Meyer's superstructure at the ship's commissioning on October 10, 2009
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A 6,000 person crowd assembles at Penn's Landing in Philadelphia, PA on October 10, 2009, for the commissioning of the USS Wayne E. Meyer
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USS Wayne E. Meyer at her commissioning with the USS New Jersey in the background
Awards and decorations
Rear Admiral Meyer's personal decorations and service medals include:[6]
- Distinguished Service Medal
- Legion of Merit
- Meritorious Service Medal
- Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation ribbon with bronze star
- China Service Medal
- American Campaign Medal
- World War II Victory Medal
- Navy Occupation Service Medal
- National Defense Medalwith bronze star
- Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
- Vietnam Service Medal
- Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Crosswith Palm Unit Citation
- Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation
- American Society of Naval Engineers Gold Medal (1976)
- Old Crow Electronics Countermeasure Association Silver Medal
- Distinguished Engineer Alumni Award, University of Kansas, 1981
- Naval Ordnance Engineer Certificate No. 99
- Fellow in the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
- Missile Systems Award for distinguished service, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 1983
- Navy League's Rear Admiral William S. Parsons Award, 1985 for scientific and technical progress in construction of the nation's Aegis fleet
- Harold E. Saunders Award for a lifetime of contributions to Naval Engineering, American Society of Naval Engineers, 1985
- National Security Industrial Association, 1988
- Designated a Pioneer, Navy's Acquisition Hall of Fame in the Pentagon, 1997
- 2008 Missile Defense Agency Ronald Reagan Award
References
- ^ Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Reserve Officers on the Active-Duty List. Bureau of Naval Personnel. October 1, 1984. p. 195. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
- ^ a b "Wayne E. Meyer Father of the Aegis Weapons System". Naval Postgraduate School. Retrieved August 25, 2007.
- ^ Father of Aegis missile system remembered, Philly.com News, October 5, 2009
- ^ Father of Aegis missile system remembered, Philly.com, October 5, 2009
- ^ "Destroyer to be named for weapons developer", Courier-Post, October 10, 2009.
- ^ "Wayne E. Meyer: Awards and Decorations". Naval Postgraduate School. Retrieved August 25, 2007.
External links
- Wayne E. Meyer: 1926–2009: Cold War Admiral Guided Navy's Antimissile Program by Stephen Miller – Wall Street Journal– September 9, 2009, page A19
- "Wayne E. Meyer dies at 83; retired Navy rear admiral". Los Angeles Times. September 2, 2009.