A Legend Passes: RADM Wayne E. Meyer

Tuesday, September 1, 2009
A Legend Passes: RADM Wayne E. Meyer

From the official DoD release: Retired Navy Rear Adm. Wayne E. Meyer, regarded as the father of the Navy’s AEGIS Weapons System, passed away today.

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"I am deeply saddened by a great loss to our Navy family,” said Admiral Gary Roughead, Chief of Naval Operations. “Rear Admiral Meyer’s passion, technical acumen, and warfighting expertise served as the foundation of our Navy combatant fleet today. On behalf of the men and women of the United States Navy, I extend my deepest and most heartfelt sympathy to the Meyer family. He was a close friend and mentor to so many of us. His legacy will remain in the Navy forever."

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Meyer was born in Brunswick, Mo., on April 21, 1926. In 1946, he graduated from the University of Kansas with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. He also held an master’s degree in astronautics and aeronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School.

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Meyer’s Navy career began in 1943 as an apprentice seaman. In 1946, he was commissioned an ensign in the U.S. Naval Reserve and was transferred to regular Navy in 1948. After several years at sea, he returned to school in 1951 and attended the Joint Guided Missile School, Fort Bliss, Texas, and the Naval Line School, Monterey, Calif., and eventually served as an instructor at Special Weapons School, Norfolk, Va.

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Meyer returned to sea as executive officer on USS Strickland, followed by service on the commander’s staff, Destroyer Force Atlantic. He was then ordered to USS Galveston.

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In 1963, Meyer was chosen to head the TERRIER desk in the Special Navy Task Force for Surface Missile Systems. He turned down a destroyer command to continue his work with missile, radar, and fire control systems, and became the founding Chief Engineer at the Naval Ship Missile System Engineering Station, Port Hueneme, Calif. In 1970, the Navy chose then Capt. Meyer to lead the development of the new AEGIS Weapon System in the Naval Ordnance Systems Command.

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In this position, Meyer was promoted to rear admiral in Jan. 1975. In Jan. 1977, he assumed duties as the founding project manager of the AEGIS Shipbuilding Project. This project was ultimately responsible for the construction of all of the Navy’s current cruisers and destroyers – with 89 ships built or in construction, and more in planning. This is one of the longest and largest naval shipbuilding programs in history. He retired from active duty in 1985.

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In Nov. 2006, the Secretary of the Navy announced that an Arleigh Burke class destroyer, DDG 108, would be named in honor of Rear Adm. Meyer. Christened on Oct. 18, 2008, the ship utilizes the same combat system that Meyer helped to develop, the Aegis Combat System, including the SPY-lD, multifunction phased array radar. This advanced system makes the AEGIS ship the foundation of the U.S. Navy’s surface combatant fleet. Additionally, when the ship is commissioned in Philadelphia, Pa. on Oct. 10, 2009, it will be manned with a complement of highly trained sailors, providing the Navy with a dynamic multi-mission warship that can operate independently or as part of carrier strike groups, surface action groups, or amphibious ready groups, ensuring USS Wayne E. Meyer will lead the Navy into the future.

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Rear Adm. Meyer’s personal decorations and service medals include: 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 Medal with Bronze Star; Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal; Vietnam Service Medal; Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation; and Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation.

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His other awards include: 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 #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 Sterling Parsons Award, for scientific and technical progress in construction of the nation's AEGIS fleet, 1985; Harold E. Sanders Award for a lifetime of contributions to Naval Engineering, American Society of Naval Engineers, 1985; Admiral J. H. Sides Award for major contributions to Anti-Air Warfare, National Security Industrial Association, 1988.

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In 1977, Meyer was designated a Pioneer in the Navy's Acquisition Hall of Fame in the Pentagon. In 2008, he was presented with the sixth annual Ronald W. Reagan Missile Defense Award.
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RADM Wayne Meyer is remembered as the "Father of AEGIS" and should be credited for giving the United States the most powerful Naval Weapon System the world has ever seen.
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Following Remarks as Delivered by Admiral Mike MullenDelivery of the 100th AEGIS System, Moorestown, NJ27 November 2006

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Secretary Etter, fellow flag and general officers, foreign guests, other many, many distinguished visitors, ladies and gentlemen. I really am delighted to be here and thank you for joining us today… as we celebrate the delivery of the Centennial AEGIS combat system to our Navy. To echo what Charlie Hamilton said -- “What a great Navy day.” What a great Navy day.

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I would like to extend a special welcome to a mentor and a dear friend, Admiral Wayne Meyer, the “Father of AEGIS.” It is also very special to have here today, someone who I consider a Saint, that will have a very high place in Heaven, that’s Anna Mae and many others from the Meyer family. I’m very fond of speaking to the needs to recognize the sacrifices of our families of the families of men and women in the uniform. And I assure you that there has been that sacrifice in the Meyer family as well. We simply would not be here without it. I am not sure that many of those working on that very first AEGIS system would have believed that one day the Navy would be accepting System One Hundred except, of course, for Admiral Meyer. He was never not sure, he was always committed to realizing the full potential of this fantastic combat system or to constantly improving it along the way.

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It was his belief in rigorous system engineering that got us here and it is those same principles that must lead us forward, not just in AEGIS but in all aspects of engineering design in our Navy. All you have to do is ask him and he’ll tell you.

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Now being the CNO, you think I might be able to affect this program and I always worried about having the might before Admiral Meyer. He loves this work with a passion. Every time we speak, it seems he is quick to tell me that my career peaked about 12 years ago. It’s always good to hear how I haven’t progressed since I left command of YORKTOWN. He then always goes on to explain, like only he can do, how the AEGIS system is always reaching for new heights.

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It is truly a system that has delivered time and again. We saw it during the Cold War, when our brazen motto was: “Stand by, Admiral Gorshkov, AEGIS is at sea!” We saw more recently during the Desert wars, as our AEGIS ships performed brilliantly providing a shield to the fleet, launching Tomahawk cruise missiles, interdicting smugglers, controlling aircraft – and so much more. We see it today, as AEGIS is at the heart of our surface Fleet that is globally deployed in defense of freedom.

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While founded on the same basic system design that graced TICONDEROGA and YORKTOWN this Centennial System’s advanced combat system and revolutionary radar – truly represent a new era of technology. For while AEGIS was originally optimized for blue water operations against Soviet bomber raids, this system brings unprecedented capabilities to the fight to the new wars and the new enemies we now face. These enemies know no bounds. They believe nothing that we believe. It is the war that we must win and it is a war we will win. In today’s fight, AEGIS is a sword and shield that enables us to command the sea, control the littoral, project power ashore, and safeguard our troops and our allies from growing threats like ballistic missiles. Nothing else at sea today even comes close.

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AEGIS ships today truly represent naval excellence, strength and freedom. And are the foundation for a strong fleet and a strong Navy which this nation has always had and must have for the future. But it isn’t just our Navy; there are other navies as has been stated. AEGIS is sailing strong aboard Japan’s KONGO class of destroyers as well as Spain’s F-100 and Norway’s F-310 frigates. And it will not be long before AEGIS is put to sea aboard new destroyers in Australia and the Republic of Korea. Wherever freedom is challenged, AEGIS is there. Thanks to Admiral Meyer and this team, Sailors across the globe can sail confidently, they have the best equipment this great country can produce -- with the best training we can provide. I am mindful, that sailing with them, is a little piece of every one of you here, those of you who design, build, test, and deliver AEGIS. Yes, where AEGIS sails, you are there too. Your hard work – your enthusiastic patriotism – your dedication to putting AEGIS to sea is every bit as important as that of the Sailors who operate this terrific system in harm’s way. To this entire Navy team, Lockheed Martin, and specifically to the workers here at Moorestown, thank you -- I appreciate what you are doing for our country. And I know each of you work tirelessly everyday to make AEGIS even better. I am convinced that as you embrace open architecture you will stand on the shoulders of this great AEGIS legacy as you take this program to new heights. Legacy -- clearly, the AEGIS Fleet has a legacy of excellence. But, some use the term “legacy” to refer to “antiquated systems.” I have even heard some call our in-service Fleet, “legacy ships.”

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AEGIS and the fleet is anything but that. As AEGIS transitions to open architecture, innovation will rapidly and simultaneously be introduced throughout our Fleet. O-A assures that there will be no “legacy ships” – instead, every ship of the line will be a state of-the-art combatant. It is clear to me that we must spread this open approach across the entire Navy. When I say open, I mean open systems, open competition and open the throttle. I want to move as fast as we can. Open architecture starts with fielding systems that leverage commercial standards to create an interoperable Fleet that connects seamlessly with our sister Services, our allies and many other global partners.

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Navies all over the world are excited about the idea of coming together in a 1000-ship navy to help each other meet the difficult challenges ahead. But to do that we must be able to talk to each other and it is open systems that will enable us to work together as one. As we open the throttles and move quickly forward it is clear that Admiral Meyer’s principles of “build a little, test a little,” of innovation, and of sound systems engineering are the model we must continue to follow. It is a model that is reflected soundly in the 100th Aegis system we accept delivery of today. Every AEGIS system needs a home, and this Centennial System is no exception -- it is heading to Bath Iron Works in Maine for installation in DDG-108, or, as they like to call her in Bath: “Hull Number 503.” When he hears someone refer to a ship simply by her hull number, Admiral Meyer always reminds us that “a ship has a name for a reason!” Indeed, the namesake of a warship inspires the crew and instills a fighting spirit. To have one’s name immortalized in an AEGIS warship is a high honor indeed -- both for the individual, and for the ship. And that’s why DDG-108 will forever be known as United States Ship WAYNE E. MEYER. Honor - we are all so proud!

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I can think of no better name for a warship of the U.S. Navy than WAYNE E. MEYER and no better tribute to the man who delivered engineering excellence to the Navy and instilled operational excellence in the fleet. Now, I know you’re proud of the Wayne E. Meyer Institute for Systems Engineering at the Naval Postgraduate School and the Wayne E. Meyer AEGIS Education Center in Dahlgren, but those buildings will never get underway. So, yes, Admiral, ships do have a name for a reason, and that’s true of this one in particular.

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Many of us here have seen first hand how your commitment to learning, your demanding standards, your fighting spirit and your extraordinary leadership changed our Navy indeed; revolutionized warfighting while changing everyone around you -- for the better. It is a spirit and character that will undoubtedly serve the crew of MEYER well as they serve in defense of freedom.

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Just as your noble legacy lives in every AEGIS ship, it will confidently guide those who sail in the one that carries your name. You can take great pride in knowing that some day soon a young Commanding Officer will surely consider command of the USS WAYNE E. MEYER the peak of his or her career.

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You have blessed us all for over four decades. May God continue to bless you, your family, our Navy and our Nation.

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The USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG 108) commissioning will be at Penn's Landing, Philadelphia on October 10, 2009.