Robert D. Nesen
Encyclopedia
Robert Dean Nesen was an American car dealer who served as United States
Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Financial Management and Comptroller)
from 1972 to 1974 and as United States Ambassador to Australia
from 1981 to 1985.
. He was educated at Tri-State College and the Curtiss-Wright Technical Institute
, receiving a B.S. in Aeronautical Engineering in 1941. He worked for the Air-Research Corp. until 1942, when he joined the United States Navy
, serving in World War II
until 1946. Upon leaving the Navy, Nesen remained a member of the United States Navy Reserve
, ultimately attaining the rank of Lieutenant Commander
before retiring from the Navy Reserve in 1966.
Upon leaving the Navy in 1946, he opened the Coast Aero Flying Service in Oxnard, California
. In 1948, Nesen opened an Oldsmobile
-Cadillac
car dealership
in Thousand Oaks, California
.
Governor of California
Ronald Reagan
appointed Nesen to the California New Car Dealers Policy and Appeals Board, and Nesen was elected as that organization's first president. Reagan later appointed him to the California State Board of Education
. Nesen was active in the Republican Party
during this period and served as chairman, and then cochairman, of the California delegation to the Republican National Convention
. In 1970, he became a member of the Executive Committee of the National Review Board of the United States Department of State
.
In 1972, President of the United States
Richard Nixon
nominated Nesen as Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Financial Management and Comptroller)
and Nesen subsequently served in this office from May 31, 1972 until May 15, 1974.
President Reagan named Nesen United States Ambassador to Australia
in 1981, a post he held until 1985.
In 1981 and 1987, there was press speculation that President Reagan would name Nesen United States Secretary of the Navy
, but this never happened.
In 1991, Nesen was inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame
.
Nesen died November 14, 2005 in Thousand Oaks, California.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Financial Management and Comptroller)
Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Financial Management and Comptroller)
The Assistant Secretary of the Navy is a civilian office of the United States Department of the Navy...
from 1972 to 1974 and as United States Ambassador to Australia
United States Ambassador to Australia
The position of United States Ambassador to Australia has existed since 1940. U.S.-Australian relations have been close throughout the history of Australia...
from 1981 to 1985.
Biography
Robert D. Nesen was born January 22, 1918 in St. Louis, MichiganSt. Louis, Michigan
St. Louis is a city in Gratiot County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 4,494. The 2010 census estimate places the population at 7,482.-Geography:...
. He was educated at Tri-State College and the Curtiss-Wright Technical Institute
Curtiss-Wright Technical Institute
The Curtiss-Wright Technical Institute was an early professional trade school operated by the Curtiss-Wright corporation for aircraft maintenance training...
, receiving a B.S. in Aeronautical Engineering in 1941. He worked for the Air-Research Corp. until 1942, when he joined the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
, serving in 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...
until 1946. Upon leaving the Navy, Nesen remained a member of 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...
, ultimately attaining the rank of Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant commander (United States)
Lieutenant commander is a mid-ranking officer rank in the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard, the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corps, with the pay grade of O-4 and NATO rank code OF-3...
before retiring from the Navy Reserve in 1966.
Upon leaving the Navy in 1946, he opened the Coast Aero Flying Service in Oxnard, California
Oxnard, California
Oxnard is the 113th largest city in the United States, 19th largest city in California and largest city in Ventura County, California, by way of population. It is located at the western edge of the fertile Oxnard Plain, and is an important agricultural center, with its distinction as the...
. In 1948, Nesen opened an Oldsmobile
Oldsmobile
Oldsmobile was a brand of American automobile produced for most of its existence by General Motors. It was founded by Ransom E. Olds in 1897. In its 107-year history, it produced 35.2 million cars, including at least 14 million built at its Lansing, Michigan factory...
-Cadillac
Cadillac
Cadillac is an American luxury vehicle marque owned by General Motors . Cadillac vehicles are sold in over 50 countries and territories, but mostly in North America. Cadillac is currently the second oldest American automobile manufacturer behind fellow GM marque Buick and is among the oldest...
car dealership
Car dealership
A car dealership or vehicle local distribution is a business that sells new or used cars at the retail level, based on a dealership contract with an automaker or its sales subsidiary. It employs automobile salespeople to do the selling...
in Thousand Oaks, California
Thousand Oaks, California
Thousand Oaks is a city in southeastern Ventura County, California, in the United States. It was named after the many oak trees that grace the area, and the city seal is adorned with an oak....
.
Governor of California
Governor of California
The Governor of California is the chief executive of the California state government, whose responsibilities include making annual State of the State addresses to the California State Legislature, submitting the budget, and ensuring that state laws are enforced...
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....
appointed Nesen to the California New Car Dealers Policy and Appeals Board, and Nesen was elected as that organization's first president. Reagan later appointed him to the California State Board of Education
California State Board of Education
The California State Board of Education is the governing and policy-making body of the California Department of Education. The State Board of Education sets K-12 education policy in the areas of standards, instructional materials, assessment, and accountability...
. Nesen was active in the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
during this period and served as chairman, and then cochairman, of the California delegation to the Republican National Convention
Republican National Convention
The Republican National Convention is the presidential nominating convention of the Republican Party of the United States. Convened by the Republican National Committee, the stated purpose of the convocation is to nominate an official candidate in an upcoming U.S...
. In 1970, he became a member of the Executive Committee of the National Review Board of the United States Department of State
United States Department of State
The United States Department of State , is the United States federal executive department responsible for international relations of the United States, equivalent to the foreign ministries of other countries...
.
In 1972, 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....
Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
nominated Nesen as Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Financial Management and Comptroller)
Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Financial Management and Comptroller)
The Assistant Secretary of the Navy is a civilian office of the United States Department of the Navy...
and Nesen subsequently served in this office from May 31, 1972 until May 15, 1974.
President Reagan named Nesen United States Ambassador to Australia
United States Ambassador to Australia
The position of United States Ambassador to Australia has existed since 1940. U.S.-Australian relations have been close throughout the history of Australia...
in 1981, a post he held until 1985.
In 1981 and 1987, there was press speculation that President Reagan would name Nesen 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...
, but this never happened.
In 1991, Nesen was inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame
Automotive Hall of Fame
The Automotive Hall of Fame is an American museum and hall of fame covering automotive innovations.-Location:Located in the metro Detroit suburb of Dearborn, Michigan, the museum shares a parking lot with The Henry Ford.-External links:*...
.
Nesen died November 14, 2005 in Thousand Oaks, California.