Hyman G. Rickover was an admiral in the United States Navy. He directed the original development of naval nuclear propulsion and controlled its operations for three decades as director of the U.S. Naval Reactors office. In addition, he oversaw the development of the Shippingport Atomic Power Station, the world's first commercial pressurized water reactor used for generating electricity. Rickover is also one of four people who have been awarded two Congressional Gold Medals.
Rickover in 1955
Admiral Rickover aboard USS Nautilus, the world's first nuclear-powered vessel. "I did not recruit extraordinary people. I recruited people who had extraordinary potential—and then I trained them."
President Kennedy and Rickover, White House, February 11, 1963 "...in addition to the multilateral POLARIS force, we discussed education and how he and I were brought up as boys."
Headstone of Admiral Hyman G. Rickover, Arlington National Cemetery
Naval Reactors (NR), which administers the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program, is an umbrella term for the U.S. government office that has comprehensive responsibility for the safe and reliable operation of the United States Navy's nuclear reactors "from womb to tomb." A single entity, it has authority and reporting responsibilities within both the Naval Sea Systems Command and the National Nuclear Security Administration (NA-30). Moreover, the Director of Naval Reactors also serves as a special assistant to the Chief of Naval Operations for Naval Nuclear Propulsion.
Image: Hyman Rickover 1955
Image: Kinnaird R. Mc Kee DN SC 86 01010
Image: Adm. Bruce De Mars, USN
Image: ADM Frank L. Bowman (covered 2)
