Hyman G. Rickover

  • Birth

    Hyamn G. Rickover was born on January 27th, 1900 in Makow, Poland. At this time, Rickover's family wasn't very well off and Makow was mainly a Jewish Ghetto. Rickover only lived in his hometown until he was 6 when his family finally left to escape the conditions and the prosecution of the Russians.
  • Emigrated from Poland to the Unted States

    To avoid prosecution in their hometown Makow, Poland, Rickover's family immagrated to the United States. Rickover was only 6 at this time so he lived most of his memorable childhood in the United States.
  • Admission into the Naval Acadamey in Anapolis**

    In 1918 Rickover was accepted to Anapolis Naval College. His father had connections to people in congress and that had helped imensely in his aceptance to the college. There, Rickover studied engineering eventually majoring in Electrical Engineering. After Rickover had finished his studies he enlisted full time into the Navy and served on a number of ships and submarines before becoming the Director of the Naval Reactor Branch.
  • Period: to

    Naval Carrier

    Rickover has the longest serving time of anybody in the Navy with an astounding 63 years of service
  • Took command of the USS Finch**

    In 1937, date unkown, Rickover finally climbed his way to being the commander of the USS Finch, Rickover had served on many other ships and had a special fascination with the Submarine. This assignment was Rickover's last in the line of duty but also his largest task yet. This would set his heart on the inovations he made to the submarines with nuclear power due to his time onboard this vessel.
  • Director of Naval Reactor Branch**

    In 1946 (exact date unknown) Hyman Rickover achieved the position of Director fo Naval Reactor Branch. From this position, Rickover conducted innumerous ammounts of development in the fields of nuclear power and energy efficiency. Rickover used his power in questionable ways to achieve his goal, such as overworking and excessively demanding of his staff, but his achievements are arguably worth their efforts.
  • USS Nautilus Commisioned

    Video of Rickover explaining the reactor in the USS Nautilus, First Atomic Submarine. This was shot on July 8th, 1952 but the USS Nautlius was commisioned on September 30, 1954. This same vessel was the later the first to cross the geographical North Pole utilizing the Atmomic generator Rickover designed. (Can't add more, word limit).
  • "Energy Resources and our Future" Speech **

    Speech LinkThis speech was dictated to an annual Scientific Assembly. This was easily Rickover's most famous speech as it depicted a 'State of the Union' on our energy resource ammounts as well as our future. He provides insight on how they lived in the fossil fuel age and the exorbant ammount of fuel we as a nation and world consumed. In the end Rickover stresses the need for alternate fuel, primarily in his field: Nuclear energy.
  • USS Nautilus travels to Geographical North Pole**

    As the first vessel to ever reach the Geographical North Pole, the USS Nautilus made its name widely know. Considering that the vessel also was the pioneer of nuclear engines, this achievement was made well known to the public along with the cheif inventor, Hyman Rickover. This achievement gave Rickover's nuclear program so much attention that over the next 20 years the Navy churned out numerous like-submarines and other ships, hence Rickover's nickname: "Father of the Nuclear Navy".
  • Decommissioned from the Navy**

    After 63 years of service under 13 presidents, Rickover finally retired from the Navy. Many say he should have been removed sooner, but due to his grasp over his position and his many achievements, Rickover managed to hold on to his position. Most other people would have been forced to retire at half of his term length, yet Congress mandated that his exempltary service was so significant that he need not retire at that age. The result was that Rickover stayed as long as he could.
  • Death **

    Rickover passed away on July 8th, 1986 in his home in Arlington, Virginia. He now rests in Arlington Cemetary among many other military servicemen and is commemorized by the name of the Attack Submarine USS Hyman G Rickover. The gravestone has very little personality attachted to it but the one thing it does contain is his nickname and greatest honor: "Father of the Nuclear Navy".