Roberta L. Hazard
Encyclopedia
Retired Rear Admiral Roberta L. Hazard (born November 8, 1934) was the third female line officer to be promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral
in the United States Navy
, and at the time, the highest-ranking woman in the U.S. military. She was the first woman to command a United States Naval Training Command.
graduate, taught history at the senior high school level prior to entering the United States Navy
in 1960.
and was commissioned an Ensign in December 1960. She was assigned as division officer and researcher-writer within the Naval History Division, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations
. She served in that capacity until December 1962, receiving a promotion to Lieutenant (jg)
in June of that year. Hazard next reported as the education, training, and leadership officer at Naval Air Station Jacksonville
in Florida.
Leaving Jacksonville in January 1965, she joined the Woman Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island
as an instructor and academic department head. Promoted to Lieutenant
that July, Hazard remained in Newport until November 1967, when she departed for a two-year tour as Protocol Officer in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. In November 1969, she reported to the U.S. Naval Academy as manager of a computer-assisted instruction project. Advanced to the rank of Lieutenant Commander
in August 1970, her service at the Academy continued until January 1971.
From 1971 to 1974, she again served in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, first as Special Assistant and Secretary. She became Special Project/Action Officer within the Middle East, African Section, Politico-Military Affairs Division (OP-61) in August 1973 and Assistant Secretary for Joint Chiefs of Staff
Matters (OP-004) as of November 1973. For the final six months of her tour, from June to December 1974, Hazard was Special Assistant to the Former Chief of Naval Operations.
She was next assigned as special assistant to the Commander in Chief, Allied Forces Southern Europe in Naples
, Italy
, serving as speech writer and political-military advisor. Promoted to Commander
in July 1976, she graduated from the National War College
two years later and was assigned to the Military Personnel and Training Division, Bureau of Personnel as head of the women's program section.
Beginning in 1980, she held three successive command tours. The first was Naval Technical Training Center, Treasure Island, California
. While in that assignment, Hazard was advanced to the rank of Captain. Her next assignment, from December 1982 until July 1985, was commanding officer of Naval Administrative Command, at San Diego Naval Training Center. Following selection to flag rank in December 1984, she commanded the Navy's largest training facility, Great Lakes Naval Training Center
in Illinois, from July 1985 through August 1987.
Hazard became the Director for Manpower and Personnel, Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in August 1987. She was selected for promotion to Rear Admiral (upper half) on May 18, 1988, the first woman to be board selected for that grade. On August 31, 1988, she assumed the duties as Director, Human Resources Management and Director, Personnel Excellence Program, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. Her final tour, as Assistant Chief of Naval Personnel, Personal Readiness and Community Support, extended from August 1989 through September 1992. In 1990 and 1991 she also chaired the NATO Committee on Women in the Armed Forces.
with majors in history and education. She also received a master's degree in history from Boston College. She graduated from the National War College
in 1978.
(with gold star in lieu of second award), the Meritorious Service Medal
(with two gold stars in lieu of a subsequent award), the Navy Commendation Medal (with one gold star in lieu of a second award), the Navy Achievement Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal
.
Rear admiral (United States)
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. The uniformed services of the United States are unique in having two grades of rear admirals.- Rear admiral :...
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...
, and at the time, the highest-ranking woman in the U.S. military. She was the first woman to command a United States Naval Training Command.
Biography
Admiral Hazard, a native of Boston, Massachusetts and a Boston CollegeBoston College
Boston College is a private Jesuit research university located in the village of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA. The main campus is bisected by the border between the cities of Boston and Newton. It has 9,200 full-time undergraduates and 4,000 graduate students. Its name reflects its early...
graduate, taught history at the senior high school level prior to entering 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 1960.
Naval career
Hazard attended Officer Candidate SchoolOfficer Candidate School
Officer Candidate School or Officer Cadet School are institutions which train civilians and enlisted personnel in order for them to gain a commission as officers in the armed forces of a country....
and was commissioned an Ensign in December 1960. She was assigned as division officer and researcher-writer within the Naval History Division, Office of 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...
. She served in that capacity until December 1962, receiving a promotion to Lieutenant (jg)
Lieutenant, Junior Grade
Lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer rank in the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard, the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, United States Merchant Marine USMM, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corps, with the pay grade...
in June of that year. Hazard next reported as the education, training, and leadership officer at Naval Air Station Jacksonville
Naval Air Station Jacksonville
Naval Air Station Jacksonville or NAS Jacksonville is a military airport located four miles south of the central business district of Jacksonville...
in Florida.
Leaving Jacksonville in January 1965, she joined the Woman Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island
Newport, Rhode Island
Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about south of Providence. Known as a New England summer resort and for the famous Newport Mansions, it is the home of Salve Regina University and Naval Station Newport which houses the United States Naval War...
as an instructor and academic department head. Promoted to Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
that July, Hazard remained in Newport until November 1967, when she departed for a two-year tour as Protocol Officer in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. In November 1969, she reported to the U.S. Naval Academy as manager of a computer-assisted instruction project. Advanced to 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...
in August 1970, her service at the Academy continued until January 1971.
From 1971 to 1974, she again served in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, first as Special Assistant and Secretary. She became Special Project/Action Officer within the Middle East, African Section, Politico-Military Affairs Division (OP-61) in August 1973 and Assistant Secretary for Joint Chiefs of Staff
Joint Chiefs of Staff
The Joint Chiefs of Staff is a body of senior uniformed leaders in the United States Department of Defense who advise the Secretary of Defense, the Homeland Security Council, the National Security Council and the President on military matters...
Matters (OP-004) as of November 1973. For the final six months of her tour, from June to December 1974, Hazard was Special Assistant to the Former Chief of Naval Operations.
She was next assigned as special assistant to the Commander in Chief, Allied Forces Southern Europe in Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, serving as speech writer and political-military advisor. Promoted to Commander
Commander (United States)
In the United States, commander is a military rank that is also sometimes used as a military title, depending on the branch of service. It is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the military, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Naval rank:In the United States...
in July 1976, she graduated from the National War College
National War College
The National War College of the United States is a school in the National Defense University. It is housed in Roosevelt Hall on Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C., the third-oldest Army post still active. It was officially established on July 1, 1946, as an upgraded replacement for the...
two years later and was assigned to the Military Personnel and Training Division, Bureau of Personnel as head of the women's program section.
Beginning in 1980, she held three successive command tours. The first was Naval Technical Training Center, Treasure Island, California
Treasure Island, California
Treasure Island is an artificial island in the San Francisco Bay between San Francisco and Oakland, and an emerging neighborhood of San Francisco....
. While in that assignment, Hazard was advanced to the rank of Captain. Her next assignment, from December 1982 until July 1985, was commanding officer of Naval Administrative Command, at San Diego Naval Training Center. Following selection to flag rank in December 1984, she commanded the Navy's largest training facility, Great Lakes Naval Training Center
Naval Station Great Lakes
Naval Station Great Lakes is the home of the United States Navy's only boot camp, located near the city of North Chicago, Illinois, in Lake County. Important tenant commands include the Recruit Training Command, Training Support Center and Navy Recruiting District Chicago...
in Illinois, from July 1985 through August 1987.
Hazard became the Director for Manpower and Personnel, Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in August 1987. She was selected for promotion to Rear Admiral (upper half) on May 18, 1988, the first woman to be board selected for that grade. On August 31, 1988, she assumed the duties as Director, Human Resources Management and Director, Personnel Excellence Program, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. Her final tour, as Assistant Chief of Naval Personnel, Personal Readiness and Community Support, extended from August 1989 through September 1992. In 1990 and 1991 she also chaired the NATO Committee on Women in the Armed Forces.
Education
Roberta Hazard graduated magna cum laude from Boston CollegeBoston College
Boston College is a private Jesuit research university located in the village of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA. The main campus is bisected by the border between the cities of Boston and Newton. It has 9,200 full-time undergraduates and 4,000 graduate students. Its name reflects its early...
with majors in history and education. She also received a master's degree in history from Boston College. She graduated from the National War College
National War College
The National War College of the United States is a school in the National Defense University. It is housed in Roosevelt Hall on Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C., the third-oldest Army post still active. It was officially established on July 1, 1946, as an upgraded replacement for the...
in 1978.
Awards and decorations
Her decorations include the Legion of MeritLegion 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...
(with gold star in lieu of second award), 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...
(with two gold stars in lieu of a subsequent award), the Navy Commendation Medal (with one gold star in lieu of a second award), the Navy Achievement Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal
National Defense Service Medal
The National Defense Service Medal is a military service medal of the United States military originally commissioned by President Dwight D. Eisenhower...
.
Legion of MeritLegion of MeritThe 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...
with Gold Star
Meritorious Service MedalMeritorious 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...
with two Gold Stars
Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Gold Star
Navy and Marine Corps Achievement MedalAchievement MedalThe Achievement Medal is a military decoration of the United States military. The Achievement Medal was first proposed as a means to recognize the contributions of junior officers and enlisted personnel who were not eligible to receive the higher Commendation Medal or the Meritorious Service...
National Defense Service MedalNational Defense Service MedalThe National Defense Service Medal is a military service medal of the United States military originally commissioned by President Dwight D. Eisenhower...
External links
- Hazard biography
- Papers of Rear Admiral Roberta L. Hazard, 1970-1992, Operational Archives Branch, Naval Historical Center, Washington, D.C.