Robert B. Pirie Jr. facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Robert B. Pirie Jr.
Robert Pirie, circa 2001
Born	(1933-09-10) September 10, 1933 (age 92) San Diego, California
Allegiance	United States
Navy
Rank	United States Secretary of the Navy (Acting)
Commands held	USS Skipjack
Alma mater	United States Naval Academy (BS) University of Oxford (BA, MA)
Relations	Robert B. Pirie (father)

Robert Burns Pirie Jr. was born on September 10, 1933. He is a retired officer from the United States Navy and a politician. In early 2001, Mr. Pirie was the Acting Secretary of the Navy. He held this important role until President George W. Bush chose someone else for the job.

Early Life and Education

Robert Pirie Jr. was born in San Diego, California. His father, Robert B. Pirie, was also a naval aviator. He retired from the Navy as a vice admiral, which is a very high rank.

School Days

Young Robert grew up in Wymore, Nebraska. He went to high school at Severn School in Maryland and graduated in 1950. After high school, he studied at Princeton University for one year.

Joining the Navy

Then, he was accepted into the United States Naval Academy. This is a special college that trains future Navy officers. Robert graduated from the Naval Academy in 1955 with a Bachelor of Science degree. While he was there, he played on the lacrosse team.

Studying at Oxford

Robert Pirie Jr. was also a Rhodes Scholar. This is a very special scholarship that allows students to study at Oxford University in England. He studied at Oxford from 1956 to 1959. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree there and later completed a Master of Arts degree in 1979.

Military Career

Mr. Pirie served in the Navy for 20 years. His most important role was commanding a nuclear attack submarine.

Commanding a Submarine

From October 1969 to July 1972, he was in charge of the Skipjack. This was a powerful nuclear submarine. After commanding the submarine, he worked for the National Security Council and the Secretary of Defense.

Retirement from Military

Robert Pirie Jr. retired from the Navy in July 1975. He held the rank of commander.

Government and Private Sector Work

After leaving the Navy, Mr. Pirie continued to work in important roles for the government and in private companies.

Working for Congress

In 1975, he joined the new Congressional Budget Office. This office helps the U.S. Congress understand the government's money plans. He was a Deputy Assistant Director there, focusing on national security.

Defense Department Roles

In 1977, Mr. Pirie became a Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense. He worked on topics like military personnel, reserve forces, and logistics (how the military gets its supplies). In 1978, President Jimmy Carter nominated him to be the Assistant Secretary of Defense for these areas. He served in that position until January 1981.

Work in Private Companies

After his government service, Robert Pirie Jr. worked for several private companies. He was the president of Essex Corporation. He also served as a vice president at the Center for Naval Analyses and the Institute for Defense Analyses. These organizations do research to help the Navy and other defense groups.

Strategic Studies

From 1989 to 1992, he led the Chief of Naval Operations Strategic Studies Group. This group helps the Navy plan for the future.

Later Government Positions

He returned to government service in 1994. He was the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Installations and Environment) from March 1994 to October 2000. This role involved managing Navy bases and protecting the environment. From October 2000 to January 2001, he was the Under Secretary of the Navy. This is a very senior position, helping to lead the entire Navy.

Personal Life

Robert Pirie Jr. is married to Joan Adams. They have two sons and one daughter.

References

• Official Navy biography: https://web.archive.org/web/20061123005759/http://www.navy.mil/navydata/people/secnav/pirie/pirie-bio.html