Sylvester R. Foley Jr. Explained

Sylvester R. Foley Jr.
Birth Date:19 September 1928
Birth Place:Manchester, New Hampshire, U.S.
Death Place:Chester, Maryland, U.S.
Placeofburial:U.S. Naval Academy Cemetery, Annapolis, Maryland, U.S.
Placeofburial Label:Place of burial
Nickname:Bob
Allegiance:United States
Branch:United States Navy
Serviceyears:1950 - 1985[1]
Rank: Admiral
Commands:Seventh Fleet
U.S. Pacific Fleet
U.S. Atlantic Command
Awards:Navy Distinguished Service Medal
French Legion of Honor
Order of the Rising Sun

Sylvester Robert "Bob" Foley Jr. (September 19, 1928 – December 31, 2019) was a four star admiral in the United States Navy who served as Commander in Chief Pacific from 1982 to 1985. He was born in Manchester, New Hampshire. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1950.[2]

Military career

After graduating as a member of the United States Naval Academy's Class of 1950, Foley served in the Navy for 35 years. Foley quickly rose through the ranks and held several operational commands during his distinguished naval career, including serving as commander of the US Seventh Fleet and commander-in-chief of the Pacific Fleet.

Retirement from military

Foley retired from the Navy in 1985, at which point he served as President Ronald Reagan's assistant secretary of energy for defense programs, where he had responsibility for the nation's nuclear weapons complex.

In 1988, Foley entered the private sector and was named president of the Advanced Technology Group at ICF Kaiser Engineers. In 1991, he joined the Raytheon Company, where he served as vice president of marketing, president of Raytheon Japan, and vice president of Asian operations.

After retiring from Raytheon, Foley served as a consultant to the departments of defense and energy and was a member of President George W. Bush's energy transition team.

In 2003, Foley was appointed the University of California's vice president for laboratory management. In his role, Foley has responsibility for the university's oversight and management at three national laboratories: Los Alamos, Lawrence Livermore, and Lawrence Berkeley.[3]

Foley earned a master's degree in international affairs from George Washington University in 1968. Additionally, Foley graduated from the Naval War College in 1968 and was recognized as a Distinguished Graduate of the Air War College.

Foley died at his home in Maryland on December 31, 2019, at the age of 91.[4] [5]

Awards and decorations

Naval Aviator Badge
Navy Distinguished Service Medal with one gold award star
Legion of MeritDistinguished Flying CrossBronze Star with Combat V
Meritorious Service MedalAir Medal with bronze Strike/Flight numeral 9Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Combat V
Navy Presidential Unit CitationNavy Unit CommendationNavy Meritorious Unit Commendation
Department of Energy, Secretary's Gold Medal for distinguished serviceNavy "E" RibbonNavy Expeditionary Medal
World War II Victory MedalNavy Occupation Service MedalChina Service Medal
National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service starKorean Service MedalArmed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Vietnam Service Medal with four service starsVietnam Navy Distinguished Service Order, 2nd classOrder of National Security Merit, 2nd Class (Republic of Korea)
Order of the Cloud and Banner, 2nd class (Republic of China)Order of the Rising Sun, Grand Cordon (Japan)Legion of Honour, degree unknown (France)
Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit CitationKorean Presidential Unit CitationUnited Nations Korea Medal
Vietnam Campaign MedalNavy Rifle Marksmanship RibbonNavy Pistol Marksmanship Ribbon
Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge

Notes and References

  1. Web site: About Us - HT - DGA Bio - Foley . Usna.com . 1941-12-07 . 2012-08-03.
  2. Book: Recommissioning USS New Jersey (BB-62), 28 December 1982, Long Beach Naval ... - United States. Navy Dept - Google Books . Google Books. 2012-08-03. Navy . United States . 1982 .
  3. Web site: Robert Foley named UC Vice President for Laboratory Management. October 20, 2003. March 29, 2011. Christ Harrington. University of California. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110915171238/http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/article/9904. September 15, 2011.
  4. Web site: Sylvester Robert Foley, Jr. (1928-2019) . Capital Gazette . 20 January 2020.
  5. Web site: Passing of Admiral Sylvester R. Foley, USN (Ret.) . 2023-06-13 . The Sextant . en-US.