Robert H. Conn
Encyclopedia
Robert Henry Conn was United States
Deputy Under Secretary of the Navy
(Financial Managementand Senior Data Processing Official) from 1981 to 1984 and Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Financial Management and Comptroller)
from 1984 to 1988.
on June 8, 1925, the son of Henry Hammond Conn and Violet B. Doremus. He enrolled in the United States Navy
in 1943, attending the Navy Flight School from 1943 to 1946; he was designated as a United States Naval Aviator
in 1946. Conn served in the Navy, including postings in seaplanes, land-based patrol bomber
s, carrier
based fighter
and attack squadrons
, and as a flight instructor
. From 1954 to 1956, Conn studied business administration at the University of Mississippi
, receiving a B.A.
in 1956.
Conn enrolled in the University of Rochester
and received an M.S.
in management
in 1962. Conn spent 1963 at the Naval War College
, and then enrolled in doctoral studies in management and economics
at Indiana University
.
In 1967, Conn became an Assistant Director in the Chief of Naval Operations
Budget Office. From 1968 to 1969, he was Director of the Fleet Resources Office at Headquarters Naval Material Command
. He was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal
for his work at the Fleet Resources Office. From 1969 to 1972, he was Assistant Director for Budget and Reports in the Office of the Navy Comptroller. Conn retired from the United States Department of the Navy
on January 1, 1972 with the rank of Captain.
Conn then joined Arthur Andersen
as manager of the Federal Liaison Division. He worked at Arthur Andersen until 1981.
In 1981, President of the United States
Ronald Reagan
nominated Conn as Deputy Under Secretary of the Navy (Financial Management and Senior Data Processing Official), and Conn began his term of office in May. In February 1984, President Reagan formally nominated Conn as Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Financial Management), and this was Conn's title from March 1984 until Conn left office on December 15, 1988. For his service, Conn was awarded both the Navy Distinguished Service Medal
and the Defense Distinguished Service Medal
. Additionally, Secretary Conn was awarded the Legion of Merit
in his distinguished career as an Officer and Aviator in the United States Navy.
Conn married Virginia "Ginny" Inness-Brown (daughter of New Yorkers Hugh Alwyn Inness-Brown, Sr., and Virginia Portia Royall Inness-Brown
. Virginia Inness-Brown attended Smith College. They have five children: Portia Royall Conn (Hirschman), Judith Conn(Goodnow), Robert H. Conn, Jr., Patricia Inness Conn,and Catherine Elizabeth Conn. Captain and Mrs Conn reside at Ocean Harbor located in East Boothbay, Maine.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Deputy Under Secretary of the Navy
United States Department of the Navy
The Department of the Navy of the United States of America was established by an Act of Congress on 30 April 1798, to provide a government organizational structure to the United States Navy and, from 1834 onwards, for the United States Marine Corps, and when directed by the President, of the...
(Financial Managementand Senior Data Processing Official) from 1981 to 1984 and 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 1984 to 1988.
Biography
Robert Henry Conn was born in Boonton, New JerseyBoonton, New Jersey
Boonton is a town in Morris County, New Jersey that was chartered in 1867. As of the 2010 United States Census, the town population was 8,347. The town was originally called "Boone-Towne" in 1761 in honor of the Colonial Governor Thomas Boone....
on June 8, 1925, the son of Henry Hammond Conn and Violet B. Doremus. He enrolled in 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...
in 1943, attending the Navy Flight School from 1943 to 1946; he was designated as a United States Naval Aviator
United States Naval Aviator
A United States Naval Aviator is a qualified pilot in the United States Navy, Marine Corps or Coast Guard.-Naming Conventions:Most Naval Aviators are Unrestricted Line Officers; however, a small number of Limited Duty Officers and Chief Warrant Officers are also trained as Naval Aviators.Until 1981...
in 1946. Conn served in the Navy, including postings in seaplanes, land-based patrol bomber
Patrol bomber
A maritime patrol aircraft , also known as a patrol aircraft, maritime reconnaissance aircraft, or by the older American term patrol bomber, is a fixed-wing aircraft designed to operate for long durations over water in maritime patrol roles - in particular anti-submarine, anti-ship and search and...
s, carrier
Aircraft carrier
An aircraft carrier is a warship designed with a primary mission of deploying and recovering aircraft, acting as a seagoing airbase. Aircraft carriers thus allow a naval force to project air power worldwide without having to depend on local bases for staging aircraft operations...
based fighter
Fighter aircraft
A fighter aircraft is a military aircraft designed primarily for air-to-air combat with other aircraft, as opposed to a bomber, which is designed primarily to attack ground targets...
and attack squadrons
Squadron (aviation)
A squadron in air force, army aviation or naval aviation is mainly a unit comprising a number of military aircraft, usually of the same type, typically with 12 to 24 aircraft, sometimes divided into three or four flights, depending on aircraft type and air force...
, and as a flight instructor
Flight instructor
A flight instructor is a person who teaches others to fly aircraft. Specific privileges granted to holders of a flight instructor qualification vary from country to country, but very generally, a flight instructor serves to enhance or evaluate the knowledge and skill level of an aviator in pursuit...
. From 1954 to 1956, Conn studied business administration at the University of Mississippi
University of Mississippi
The University of Mississippi, also known as Ole Miss, is a public, coeducational research university located in Oxford, Mississippi. Founded in 1844, the school is composed of the main campus in Oxford, four branch campuses located in Booneville, Grenada, Tupelo, and Southaven as well as the...
, receiving a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1956.
Conn enrolled in the University of Rochester
University of Rochester
The University of Rochester is a private, nonsectarian, research university in Rochester, New York, United States. The university grants undergraduate and graduate degrees, including doctoral and professional degrees. The university has six schools and various interdisciplinary programs.The...
and received an M.S.
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
in management
Management
Management in all business and organizational activities is the act of getting people together to accomplish desired goals and objectives using available resources efficiently and effectively...
in 1962. Conn spent 1963 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 then enrolled in doctoral studies in management and economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
at Indiana University
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
.
In 1967, Conn became an Assistant Director in 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...
Budget Office. From 1968 to 1969, he was Director of the Fleet Resources Office at Headquarters Naval Material Command
Office of Naval Material
In January 1942 the Director of Material and Procurement was appointed to coordinate all material procurement activities of the US Navy. In 1948 the office title was changed to Chief of Division of Material, and in 1984 to Chief of the Office of Naval Material. In 1983 title was changed to Naval...
. He was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal (United States)
The Meritorious Service Medal is a military decoration presented to members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguished themselves by outstanding meritorious achievement or service to the United States subsequent to January 16, 1969...
for his work at the Fleet Resources Office. From 1969 to 1972, he was Assistant Director for Budget and Reports in the Office of the Navy Comptroller. Conn retired from the United States Department of the Navy
United States Department of the Navy
The Department of the Navy of the United States of America was established by an Act of Congress on 30 April 1798, to provide a government organizational structure to the United States Navy and, from 1834 onwards, for the United States Marine Corps, and when directed by the President, of the...
on January 1, 1972 with the rank of Captain.
Conn then joined Arthur Andersen
Arthur Andersen
Arthur Andersen LLP, based in Chicago, was once one of the "Big Five" accounting firms among PricewaterhouseCoopers, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, Ernst & Young and KPMG, providing auditing, tax, and consulting services to large corporations...
as manager of the Federal Liaison Division. He worked at Arthur Andersen until 1981.
In 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 Conn as Deputy Under Secretary of the Navy (Financial Management and Senior Data Processing Official), and Conn began his term of office in May. In February 1984, President Reagan formally nominated Conn as Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Financial Management), and this was Conn's title from March 1984 until Conn left office on December 15, 1988. For his service, Conn was awarded both the Navy Distinguished Service Medal
Navy Distinguished Service Medal
The Navy Distinguished Service Medal is a military award of the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps which was first created in 1919. The decoration is the Navy and Marine Corps equivalent to the Army Distinguished Service Medal, the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, and the Coast...
and the Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Defense Distinguished Service Medal
The Defense Distinguished Service Medal is a United States military award which is presented for exceptionally distinguished performance of duty contributing to national security or defense of the United States...
. Additionally, Secretary Conn was awarded the Legion of Merit
Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
in his distinguished career as an Officer and Aviator in the United States Navy.
Conn married Virginia "Ginny" Inness-Brown (daughter of New Yorkers Hugh Alwyn Inness-Brown, Sr., and Virginia Portia Royall Inness-Brown
Virginia Portia Royall Inness-Brown
Virginia Portia Royall Inness-Brown , noted proponent of the arts and first recipient of the Handel Medallion of New York City in 1959, was born in Medford, Massachusetts on May 4, 1901. She was the daughter of John Allen Crosskeys Royall and Agatha Caroline Freeman...
. Virginia Inness-Brown attended Smith College. They have five children: Portia Royall Conn (Hirschman), Judith Conn(Goodnow), Robert H. Conn, Jr., Patricia Inness Conn,and Catherine Elizabeth Conn. Captain and Mrs Conn reside at Ocean Harbor located in East Boothbay, Maine.