Ralph E. Williams
Encyclopedia
Ralph E. Williams was born at Pecos, Texas
and earned a B.B.A. at the University of Texas in 1938.
In June 1941 Williams was commissioned an ensign in the United States Navy Reserve
but would transfer to the regular active duty Navy in 1943. For the duration of World War II
, Williams served in the Pacific theater at Pearl Harbor
and Tarawa. In the immediate postwar period, Williams was a faculty member at the Naval War College
and later served as assistant to the Chief of Naval Operations
and the United States Secretary of the Navy
.
From 1958 to 1961, Williams was a member of Dwight D. Eisenhower
's White House
staff as assistant to Eisenhower's Naval aid Captain Evan P. Aurand. It was during this period that Williams (also working as a speechwriter) and Malcolm Moos
coined the term "military-industrial complex
" that Eisenhower used in his farewell address.
Following his departure from the White House, Williams was assigned to the Naval Supply Center at Pearl Harbor where he served until he retired in 1965 with the rank of Captain. After his retirement he entered civil service and worked under the mineral resources secretary for the United States Department of the Interior
. By the time he retired from public service in 1982, Williams was staff assistant to the director of the United States Geological Survey
.
Pecos, Texas
Pecos is the largest city in and the county seat of Reeves County, Texas, United States. It is situated in the river valley on the west bank of the Pecos River at the eastern edge of the Chihuahuan Desert and the Trans-Pecos region of west Texas and near the southern border of New Mexico...
and earned a B.B.A. at the University of Texas in 1938.
In June 1941 Williams was commissioned an ensign in the United States Navy Reserve
United States Navy Reserve
The United States Navy Reserve, until 2005 known as the United States Naval Reserve, is the Reserve Component of the United States Navy...
but would transfer to the regular active duty Navy in 1943. For the duration of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Williams served in the Pacific theater at Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
and Tarawa. In the immediate postwar period, Williams was a faculty member at the Naval War College
Naval War College
The Naval War College is an education and research institution of the United States Navy that specializes in developing ideas for naval warfare and passing them along to officers of the Navy. The college is located on the grounds of Naval Station Newport in Newport, Rhode Island...
and later served as assistant to the Chief of Naval Operations
Chief of Naval Operations
The Chief of Naval Operations is a statutory office held by a four-star admiral in the United States Navy, and is the most senior uniformed officer assigned to serve in the Department of the Navy. The office is a military adviser and deputy to the Secretary of the Navy...
and the United States Secretary of the Navy
United States Secretary of the Navy
The Secretary of the Navy of the United States of America is the head of the Department of the Navy, a component organization of the Department of Defense...
.
From 1958 to 1961, Williams was a member of Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
's White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
staff as assistant to Eisenhower's Naval aid Captain Evan P. Aurand. It was during this period that Williams (also working as a speechwriter) and Malcolm Moos
Malcolm Moos
Malcolm Charles Moos was an American political scientist.He received his bachelors and masters degrees in political science from the University of Minnesota. He went on to receive his doctorate, also in political science, from the University of California, Los Angeles. After receiving his Ph.D...
coined the term "military-industrial complex
Military-industrial complex
Military–industrial complex , or Military–industrial-congressional complex is a concept commonly used to refer to policy and monetary relationships between legislators, national armed forces, and the industrial sector that supports them...
" that Eisenhower used in his farewell address.
Following his departure from the White House, Williams was assigned to the Naval Supply Center at Pearl Harbor where he served until he retired in 1965 with the rank of Captain. After his retirement he entered civil service and worked under the mineral resources secretary for the United States Department of the Interior
United States Department of the Interior
The United States Department of the Interior is the United States federal executive department of the U.S. government responsible for the management and conservation of most federal land and natural resources, and the administration of programs relating to Native Americans, Alaska Natives, Native...
. By the time he retired from public service in 1982, Williams was staff assistant to the director of the United States Geological Survey
United States Geological Survey
The United States Geological Survey is a scientific agency of the United States government. The scientists of the USGS study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, and the natural hazards that threaten it. The organization has four major science disciplines, concerning biology,...
.