Paul Ignatius facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Paul Ignatius
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Official portrait, c. 1967
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| 59th United States Secretary of the Navy | |||||||||||||||
| In office September 1, 1967 – January 24, 1969 |
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| President | Lyndon B. Johnson Richard Nixon |
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| Preceded by | Paul Nitze | ||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | John Chafee | ||||||||||||||
| 11th United States Under Secretary of the Army | |||||||||||||||
| In office February 1964 – December 1964 |
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| President | Lyndon B. Johnson | ||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Stephen Ailes | ||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Stanley Rogers Resor | ||||||||||||||
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| Personal details | |||||||||||||||
| Born |
Paul Robert Ignatius
November 11, 1920 Glendale, California, U.S. |
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| Died | November 6, 2025 (aged 104) Washington, D.C., U.S. |
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| Spouse |
Nancy Sharpless Weiser
(m. 1947; died 2019) |
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| Children | 4, including David and Adi | ||||||||||||||
| Education | |||||||||||||||
| Military service | |||||||||||||||
| Allegiance |  United States |
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| Branch/service |  United States Navy |
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| Years of service | 1943–1946 | ||||||||||||||
| Battles/wars | World War II | ||||||||||||||
Paul Robert Ignatius (born November 11, 1920 – died November 6, 2025) was an important American government official and businessman. He served as the 59th United States Secretary of the Navy from 1967 to 1969. This was during the time Lyndon B. Johnson was president. Before this, he was the United States Under Secretary of the Army in 1964. During his time as Navy Secretary, he was the highest-ranking Armenian American in the U.S. government.
After his government work, Mr. Ignatius became president of The Washington Post newspaper. He also served as an executive for The Washington Post Company from 1969 to 1971. He later led the Air Transport Association as its president and CEO. He also helped guide several important foundations and institutes.
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Early Life and Education
Paul Robert Ignatius was born in 1920 in Glendale, California. His parents were from Armenia and had moved to the United States. His family's original last name was Ignatosian (Armenian: Իգնատոսեան).
He earned his first college degree from the University of Southern California. Later, he received a master's degree in business from Harvard Business School.
During World War II, Mr. Ignatius served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy. He worked as an aviation officer on an aircraft carrier called the USS Manila Bay (CVE-61) in the Pacific Ocean.
Working for the Government
In 1961, Mr. Ignatius began his career in government at the Pentagon. This is the headquarters for the U.S. Department of Defense. He worked under Robert S. McNamara, who was the Secretary of Defense.
He first served as the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations and Logistics. This role involved managing military bases and supplies. He held this position from 1961 to 1964 under Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson. In 1964, he briefly became the Under Secretary of the Army. From 1964 to 1967, he worked for the U.S. Department of Defense. During this time, he focused on making sure supplies reached military forces. He also helped prepare ports and bases during the Vietnam War.
In August 1967, President Johnson chose Mr. Ignatius to be the United States Secretary of the Navy. The U.S. Senate approved his nomination. He was sworn into office on September 1, 1967.
As Navy Secretary, Mr. Ignatius helped manage the Navy's activities during the Vietnam War. He also dealt with a major event in 1968 called the USS Pueblo incident. A U.S. Navy ship, the USS Pueblo, was captured by North Korea. One crew member died, and the other 83 crew members were held for 11 months. The United States worked to get them released.
Mr. Ignatius finished his time as Navy Secretary in January 1969. This was shortly after Richard Nixon became president.
Leading The Washington Post
After leaving the government in 1969, Mr. Ignatius became president of The Washington Post newspaper. He also served as an executive for The Washington Post Company. He was recommended for the job by his friend, former Defense Secretary McNamara.
During his time at The Washington Post, Mr. Ignatius helped manage the newspaper. He also had a disagreement about publishing important government documents known as the Pentagon Papers. He and some lawyers for the Post thought it might be better not to publish them. However, the newspaper's publisher, Katharine Graham, decided to release the papers. Mr. Ignatius's time with the newspaper ended in 1971.
Later Career and Community Work
Mr. Ignatius continued to be active in many organizations. He was a trustee for the George C. Marshall Foundation. He also helped found and lead the Logistics Management Institute.
He served as chairman, president, and CEO of the Air Transport Association. This organization represents major U.S. airlines. He also started his own business consulting firm. Mr. Ignatius wrote two books about his experiences in the Navy, government, and business. He and his wife, Nancy, also supported many charitable groups. He encouraged young people to consider careers in government.
Family Life and Passing
Paul Ignatius married Nancy Weiser Sharpless in 1947. They lived in Washington, D.C. Nancy passed away in January 2019.
They had four children: two sons and two daughters. Their son David Ignatius is a well-known columnist and writer for The Washington Post. Their son Adi Ignatius is the editor-in-chief of Harvard Business Review. Both of their daughters, Sarah and Amy, became lawyers. Amy Ignatius is a judge.
Mr. Ignatius celebrated his 100th birthday on November 11, 2020. He passed away at his home in Washington, D.C., on November 6, 2025, at the age of 104.
Legacy and Honors
Mr. Ignatius has been honored for his service. On May 23, 2013, the U.S. Navy announced that a new destroyer ship would be named after him. The USS Paul Ignatius (DDG-117) was officially put into service on July 27, 2019.
He was also recognized by the USC Hall of Fame. He received honors at the Armenian American Museum and Cultural Center. In July 2025, a bill was introduced to rename a U.S. Postal Service building in Glendale after him.
