James F. Goodrich
Encyclopedia
James F. Goodrich was the United States
Under Secretary of the Navy
from 1981 to 1987.
and educated in Jackson, Michigan
. After high school, he attended the Department of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering at the University of Michigan
, receiving his B.S. in 1937. After graduating, he worked on Gulf Oil
tankers
for two years, and then spent a year as a machinist
for Bethlehem Steel
in Sparrows Point, Maryland.
Goodrich took a job with Todd Pacific Shipyards
in Tacoma, Washington
in 1940, and by 1943-45 served as Chief Engineer. In 1945, he was transferred to Seattle, Washington
, where he worked as General Superintendent and then as Assistant General Manage. In 1956, he was promoted to General Manager of Todd Shipyards' Los Angeles
division.
After 16 years with Todd Pacific Shipyards, in 1964, he left to become executive vice president of Bath Industries, Inc. The next year, Bath Industries changed its name to Congoleum Corp. in 1965 and Goodrich took over as its president and chief executive officer
, a position he held until 1975. From 1975 to 1978, Goodrich was chairman of the Board of Directors
of Bath Iron Works
.
On September 9, 1981, President of the United States
Ronald Reagan
nominated Goodrich as Under Secretary of the Navy
. Goodrich was sworn in as Under Secretary on September 29, 1981 and held this office until August 6, 1987.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Under Secretary of the Navy
Under Secretary of the Navy
The Under Secretary of the Navy is the second-highest ranking civilian official in the United States Department of the Navy. The Under Secretary, called the "Under" in Pentagon slang, reports to the Secretary of the Navy ....
from 1981 to 1987.
Biography
Goodrich was born on January 24, 1913, in Fennville, MichiganFennville, Michigan
Fennville is a city in Allegan County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,459 at the 2000 census.The city is situated on M-89 on the boundary between Manlius Township on the north and Clyde Township on the south...
and educated in Jackson, Michigan
Jackson, Michigan
Jackson is a city located along Interstate 94 in the south central area of the U.S. state of Michigan, about west of Ann Arbor and south of Lansing. It is the county seat of Jackson County. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 33,534...
. After high school, he attended the Department of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
, receiving his B.S. in 1937. After graduating, he worked on Gulf Oil
Gulf Oil
Gulf Oil was a major global oil company from the 1900s to the 1980s. The eighth-largest American manufacturing company in 1941 and the ninth-largest in 1979, Gulf Oil was one of the so-called Seven Sisters oil companies...
tankers
Oil tanker
An oil tanker, also known as a petroleum tanker, is a merchant ship designed for the bulk transport of oil. There are two basic types of oil tankers: the crude tanker and the product tanker. Crude tankers move large quantities of unrefined crude oil from its point of extraction to refineries...
for two years, and then spent a year as a machinist
Machinist
A machinist is a person who uses machine tools to make or modify parts, primarily metal parts, a process known as machining. This is accomplished by using machine tools to cut away excess material much as a woodcarver cuts away excess wood to produce his work. In addition to metal, the parts may...
for Bethlehem Steel
Bethlehem Steel
The Bethlehem Steel Corporation , based in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, was once the second-largest steel producer in the United States, after Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based U.S. Steel. After a decline in the U.S...
in Sparrows Point, Maryland.
Goodrich took a job with Todd Pacific Shipyards
Todd Pacific Shipyards
Vigor Shipyards was founded in 1916 as the William H. Todd Corporation through the merger of Robins Dry Dock & Repair Company of Erie Basin, Brooklyn, New York, the Tietjen & Long Dry Dock Company of Hoboken, New Jersey, and the Seattle Construction and Dry Dock Company...
in Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma is a mid-sized urban port city and the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States. The city is on Washington's Puget Sound, southwest of Seattle, northeast of the state capital, Olympia, and northwest of Mount Rainier National Park. The population was 198,397, according to...
in 1940, and by 1943-45 served as Chief Engineer. In 1945, he was transferred to Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
, where he worked as General Superintendent and then as Assistant General Manage. In 1956, he was promoted to General Manager of Todd Shipyards' Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
division.
After 16 years with Todd Pacific Shipyards, in 1964, he left to become executive vice president of Bath Industries, Inc. The next year, Bath Industries changed its name to Congoleum Corp. in 1965 and Goodrich took over as its president and chief executive officer
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
, a position he held until 1975. From 1975 to 1978, Goodrich was chairman of the Board of Directors
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
of Bath Iron Works
Bath Iron Works
Bath Iron Works is a major American shipyard located on the Kennebec River in Bath, Maine, United States. Since its founding in 1884 , BIW has built private, commercial and military vessels, most of which have been ordered by the United States Navy...
.
On September 9, 1981, President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
nominated Goodrich as Under Secretary of the Navy
Under Secretary of the Navy
The Under Secretary of the Navy is the second-highest ranking civilian official in the United States Department of the Navy. The Under Secretary, called the "Under" in Pentagon slang, reports to the Secretary of the Navy ....
. Goodrich was sworn in as Under Secretary on September 29, 1981 and held this office until August 6, 1987.