Russell A. Rourke
Encyclopedia
Russell A. Rourke was a lawyer and public official. He served in key staff positions on Capital Hill
and in senior executive positions within the Federal Government. President Ronald Reagan
appointed him to serve as the fifteenth Secretary of the Air Force.
, receiving a bachelor of arts degree in 1953. After graduation, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps
. He served in Korea
, completing his active duty service as a first lieutenant. However, Rourke remained in the Marine Corps Reserve, eventually commanding the Marine Air Control Squadron 24 at Quantico
, Virginia. He retired in 1985 as a colonel after 32 years of service. His Marine decorations include the Legion of Merit
.
After being released from active duty in the Marine Corps, Rourke attended law school at Georgetown University Law Center
earning a bachelor of laws degree in 1959. He then worked briefly in the Washington, D.C. law firm of Keogh, Carey and Costello as an associate attorney before beginning his public service career in 1960.
Congressman John R. Pillion
of New York. In 1965, he became administrative assistant to Congressman Henry P. Smith III
another New York Republican. When Congressman Smith retired in 1974, Rourke ran as a Republican-Conservative candidate for Congress
in 36th district of New York. Although the district had been held by Republicans for the previous 62 years, Rourke had not lived in the district for many years and the Watergate scandal
was an issue that worked against Republican candidates in the election. As a result, he was defeated by a three-to-two margin.
Following his unsuccessful run for Congress, Rourke became deputy to presidential counselor John O. Marsh
. In 1976, he became a special assistant to President Gerald R. Ford. His responsibilities included legislative liaison between the White House
and Congress. After President Ford lost his bid for re-election in 1977, Rourke serve on the White House Transition Team. At the close of the Ford Administration, Rourke accepted a position as administrative assistant to Republican Congressman Harold S. Sawyer
of Michigan
.
In May 1981, President Reagan nominated Rourke as assistant secretary for legislative affairs in the Department of Defense
. In that capacity, Rourke was the principal adviser to Secretary of Defense Caspar W. Weinberger on congressional matters and was responsible for overseeing congressional liaison activities in the Department and military Services. Upon his departure in 1985, he was awarded the Department of Defense Distinguished Civilian Service Medal
by Secretary Weinberger.
On September 27, 1985, President Reagan nominated Rourke to replace Verne Orr
who was retiring after five years as Secretary of the Air Force. After confirmation by the United States Senate
, he was sworn in as the fifteenth Secretary of the Air Force on December 1, 1985. He served only four month in that position before resigning on April 7, 1986 for personal reasons.
After leaving the Air Force
, Rourke and his family operated a real estate business in Annapolis, Maryland
. He died in Annapolis, Maryland
on January 19, 2003 at the age 71.
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
and in senior executive positions within the Federal Government. President 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 him to serve as the fifteenth Secretary of the Air Force.
Education and early career
Born in New York City, Rourke attended the University of MarylandUniversity of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
, receiving a bachelor of arts degree in 1953. After graduation, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
. He served in Korea
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, completing his active duty service as a first lieutenant. However, Rourke remained in the Marine Corps Reserve, eventually commanding the Marine Air Control Squadron 24 at Quantico
Quantico, Virginia
- Demographics :As of the census of 2000, there are 561 people, 295 households, and 107 families living in the town. The population density is . There are 359 housing units at an average density of .-Racial composition:...
, Virginia. He retired in 1985 as a colonel after 32 years of service. His Marine decorations include 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...
.
After being released from active duty in the Marine Corps, Rourke attended law school at Georgetown University Law Center
Georgetown University Law Center
Georgetown University Law Center is the law school of Georgetown University, located in Washington, D.C.. Established in 1870, the Law Center offers J.D., LL.M., and S.J.D. degrees in law...
earning a bachelor of laws degree in 1959. He then worked briefly in the Washington, D.C. law firm of Keogh, Carey and Costello as an associate attorney before beginning his public service career in 1960.
Public service
Rourke began his civilian government service as administrative assistant to RepublicanRepublican 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...
Congressman John R. Pillion
John R. Pillion
John Raymond Pillion was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from New York....
of New York. In 1965, he became administrative assistant to Congressman Henry P. Smith III
Henry P. Smith III
Henry P. Smith III was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from New York.Smith was born in North Tonawanda, New York. He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1933 and Cornell Law School in 1936. He was mayor of North Tonawanda, New York from 1961 until 1963...
another New York Republican. When Congressman Smith retired in 1974, Rourke ran as a Republican-Conservative candidate for Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
in 36th district of New York. Although the district had been held by Republicans for the previous 62 years, Rourke had not lived in the district for many years and the Watergate scandal
Watergate scandal
The Watergate scandal was a political scandal during the 1970s in the United States resulting from the break-in of the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate office complex in Washington, D.C., and the Nixon administration's attempted cover-up of its involvement...
was an issue that worked against Republican candidates in the election. As a result, he was defeated by a three-to-two margin.
Following his unsuccessful run for Congress, Rourke became deputy to presidential counselor John O. Marsh
John Otho Marsh, Jr.
John Otho Marsh, Jr. served as the United States Secretary of the Army between 1981 and 1989. He also served in the United States House of Representatives from Virginia from 1963 to 1971. He graduated from Washington and Lee University, where he was a member of Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity...
. In 1976, he became a special assistant to President Gerald R. Ford. His responsibilities included legislative liaison between the 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...
and Congress. After President Ford lost his bid for re-election in 1977, Rourke serve on the White House Transition Team. At the close of the Ford Administration, Rourke accepted a position as administrative assistant to Republican Congressman Harold S. Sawyer
Harold S. Sawyer
Harold Samuel Sawyer was a politician from the U.S. state of Michigan.Sawyer was born in San Francisco, California, and attended the public schools of the San Francisco Bay area. He graduated from Marin Junior College , Kentfield, California and from the University of California, Berkeley in 1940....
of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
.
In May 1981, President Reagan nominated Rourke as assistant secretary for legislative affairs in the Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
. In that capacity, Rourke was the principal adviser to Secretary of Defense Caspar W. Weinberger on congressional matters and was responsible for overseeing congressional liaison activities in the Department and military Services. Upon his departure in 1985, he was awarded the Department of Defense Distinguished Civilian Service Medal
Department of Defense Distinguished Civilian Service Award
The Department of Defense Distinguished Civilian Service Award is the highest civilian award given by the United States Department of Defense. This award and accompanying Distinguished Civilian Service Medal is the Department's highest award given to career DoD civilian employees whose careers...
by Secretary Weinberger.
On September 27, 1985, President Reagan nominated Rourke to replace Verne Orr
Verne Orr
Verne Orr was the 14th Secretary of the Air Force, appointed by President Ronald Reagan. From California, he was a businessman and educator who served in both state and national government positions.-Early life:Verne Orr was born on November 12, 1916 in Des Moines, Iowa...
who was retiring after five years as Secretary of the Air Force. After confirmation by the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
, he was sworn in as the fifteenth Secretary of the Air Force on December 1, 1985. He served only four month in that position before resigning on April 7, 1986 for personal reasons.
After leaving the Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
, Rourke and his family operated a real estate business in Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Maryland, as well as the county seat of Anne Arundel County. It had a population of 38,394 at the 2010 census and is situated on the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Severn River, south of Baltimore and about east of Washington, D.C. Annapolis is...
. He died in Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Maryland, as well as the county seat of Anne Arundel County. It had a population of 38,394 at the 2010 census and is situated on the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Severn River, south of Baltimore and about east of Washington, D.C. Annapolis is...
on January 19, 2003 at the age 71.