644:
704:
719:
688:
656:
149:
169:
114:
672:
643:
159:
596:(formerly the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization and Strategic Defense Initiative Organization) in developing ballistic missile defense capability for the nation's Aegis fleet of cruisers and destroyers. He continued to live in Falls Church, VA with his wife Anna Mae, stepson Edward and two cats. His late wife Margaret was the sponsor, and his granddaughter Peggy was the Maid of Honor for the Aegis guided-missile cruiser
40:
131:
235:, on April 21, 1926. His first four years of school were in Warden District School (eight grades in one room with a wood stove) under Helen Duncan. His father and family were livestock and grain farmers, plowing the land referred to by locals as the "gumbo". Meyer's father Eugene was displaced in the drought and the
243:
Enrolled in the 140-pupil
Brunswick High School in 1939, his primary teacher (and principal) was Miss Edith Marston. Under her tutelage, he and three other boys had been prepared by her to take a three-day Armed Services competitive exam in January 1943, which all passed. In April they were called to
319:
Meyer was enrolled in the university's
Engineering School as his primary duty. He completed eight semesters towards his bachelor's degree on February 1, 1946. Later that month the Navy ordered the remainder of that Naval Unit (only 35 out of approximately 500 originally) to be commissioned as Ensign
493:
Meyer's philosophy of "Build a Little, Test a Little, Learn a Lot" drove the testing and milestones of the Aegis system. Having witnessed problems with existing missile systems related to a lack of testing, tests that incorporated too many objectives, and failed system integration efforts requiring
452:
In 1970, he was recalled to
Washington and reported to the Naval Ordnance Systems Command as Manager, Aegis Weapon System. The Aegis project was begun by the Navy as the Advanced Surface Missile System (ASMS). Following the cancellation of the Typhon project, the Navy began work on ASMS to arm the
542:
class destroyers and handle the same air threats as the CG-47 class. The project responsibility originally lay outside of PMS 400, in another functional code in the Naval Sea
Systems Command (NAVSEA 93). However, by May 1982, the project was put under Meyer's control in PMS 400, with a lead ship
472:
He insisted upon rigorous system engineering discipline throughout the project, and spent considerable effort ensuring that all participants understood what the system was required to do, and what their role was. Key to specifying and measuring system performance was the development of the three
448:
and was appointed an
Ordnance Engineering Duty Officer the same year he was selected for promotion to Captain. He was 40 years old. In 1967, he reported as Director of Engineering at the Naval Ship Missile Systems Engineering Station, Port Hueneme, California (now known as Naval Surface Warfare
239:
and lost everything in 1935. He and his family of four children moved eleven miles into clay country five miles North of
Brunswick. Wayne and siblings were enrolled in St. Boniface Catholic School, a 2-room schoolhouse. Sister Mary Joann was his teacher for the next four years with grades five
703:
440:. His work at the Terrier Desk led to his appointment to lead the engineering effort to shift the 30 Terrier-armed ships from analog to high-speed digital systems. Turning down a destroyer command to continue this prelude to advanced weapons system design, he transferred from
512:, took time to develop. Throughout the project's development, the size and armament of the ships were the subject of vigorous debate within the Navy, the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and Congress. The proposed ships ranged from a 5,000-ton "austere" ship promoted by
468:
In 1969, RCA was awarded a contract to begin development. Meyer arrived in 1970, a leader experienced in system development, familiar with current fleet problems, and savvy enough to deal with the Navy and DoD hierarchy to see the project through to completion.
626:& Susan Collins, Maine Congressmen Tom Allen and Michael Michaud, Maine Governor John Baldacci, Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Gary Roughead, Assistant Secretary of the Navy Sean Stackley, Bath Iron Works president Dugan Shipway, and Rear Admiral Meyer.
621:
is named in his honor. She is the 85th Aegis ship to be constructed and wields the 100th Aegis system to be delivered to the Navy. She was christened on
October 18, 2008, at Bath Iron Works in Maine. Christening speakers included Maine Senators
460:
Withington delivered a report to the
Secretary on May 15, 1965, recommending a phased array S-Band radar to search and track air targets, six slaved X-band radars for illumination and fire control, a digital control system compatible with the
687:
718:
516:
to a nuclear strike cruiser displacing three times as much. The type of ship, cruiser or destroyer was also a subject of debate. The Aegis system was eventually installed on a modified version of the
655:
465:, a standard missile that could be directed in flight, and a dual-rail launcher. The report also recommended choosing a prime contractor to develop the system and improving existing missiles.
606:
1083:
1088:
523:
hull, the first of which was designated as DDG-47, and later changed to CG-47. The ship was appropriated in 1978, and shortly after construction began at
Ingalls Shipbuilding in
453:
fleet against the advanced Soviet air threats expected in the 1960s and 1970s. After receiving seven concept proposals from arms makers, the Navy
Secretary recalled retired RADM
348:. He qualified for Officer of the Deck underway at the age of 20. Meyer subsequently served as part of the Occupation Forces in the Mediterranean along with service in the
831:
384:, his ship sailed for home only to head to Hunters Point, San Francisco shipyard for decommissioning. From 1951 through 1955, he attended the Joint Guided Missile School,
497:
Meyer was also named Project Manager (the final one) for Surface Missile Systems in 1972, and in July 1974 he was named the first Director of Surface Warfare, in the new
304:
on May 12, 1943, after his parents signed the required papers, as he was only 17 at the time. Meyer graduated from high school on May 23 as president of his class and
152:
565:
In September 1983, Meyer was reassigned as Deputy Commander, Weapons and Combat Systems, Naval Sea Systems Command. He retired from active duty in 1985. In 1985 the
1078:
810:
671:
494:
massive "get well" programs, he drove the project to conduct numerous tests in development and in delivery of production gear prior to ship installation.
1073:
410:, followed again by MIT for 12 months. Here he was awarded one of the early master's degrees in Aeronautics and Astronautics. Then he was ordered to the
1058:
1053:
1048:
756:
172:
555:, the ship was designed with an Aegis Combat System, modified for installation in the destroyer and less heavily armed. The ship was commissioned as
1043:
853:
223:
in 1985 as the Deputy Commander for Weapons and Combat Systems, Naval Sea Systems, Naval Sea Systems Command and Ordnance Officer of the Navy.
840:
325:
285:
1068:
1063:
815:
804:
589:
566:
249:
943:
931:
794:
746:
535:
539:
248:
to examine their physical fitness for enlistment in a competitive college program created by President Roosevelt, called the
709:
A 6,000 person crowd assembles at Penn's Landing in Philadelphia, PA on October 10, 2009, for the commissioning of the USS
505:
in January 1975 at age 49. In July, he became the founding Project Manager, Aegis Shipbuilding, with project code PMS-400.
219:
Weapon System Manager and later the founding project manager of the Aegis Shipbuilding Project Office. He retired from the
783:
762:
846:
Harold E. Saunders Award for a lifetime of contributions to Naval Engineering, American Society of Naval Engineers, 1985
359:
Over the next two decades he served in the occupation forces in Japanese and in Chinese waters. His ship, the light gun
134:
20:
630:
86:
356:
in 1948. He was also accepted for augmentation and transfer of his officer commission to the Regular Navy that year.
885:
Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Reserve Officers on the Active-Duty List
778:
462:
1010:
602:. He has three adult children (Paula, James and Robert), 2 stepchildren (Anna and Edward) and four grandchildren.
610:
509:
498:
441:
436:
chose then-Commander Meyer to serve in the Navy Task Force for Surface Guided Missile Systems, commanded by RADM
289:
517:
99:
148:
215:(April 21, 1926 – September 1, 2009) is regarded as the "Father of Aegis" for his 13 years of service as the
773:
524:
454:
445:
363:
788:
593:
585:
569:
presented him with the Society's Harold E. Saunders Award for lifetime contributions to naval engineering
336:
training (and an additional B.S. in Electrical Engineering with an Electronics option), he was ordered to
321:
269:
836:
Missile Systems Award for distinguished service, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 1983
649:
Pulling the plug to de-energize the 100th Aegis Weapons System to be delivered the Navy November 27, 2006
531:. Meyer and the project team were proud that the ship was ready to fight so shortly after commissioning.
799:
597:
415:
245:
997:
1038:
1033:
954:
407:
389:
313:
261:
534:
A second class of Aegis ship began with concept studies in 1978. The class was to replace the aging
168:
1002:
768:
513:
265:
232:
216:
62:
614:
301:
220:
119:
1015:
883:
556:
393:
385:
309:
273:
633:
on September 17, 2009. The ship named in his honor was commissioned on October 10, 2009, in
457:(a former Chief of the Bureau of Ordnance) to active duty to recommend one for development.
236:
910:
751:
544:
527:. CG-47 was commissioned on January 22, 1983, and a short nine months later fired guns at
424:
Cruiser. He has fired, in exercises and tests, more TALOS missiles than any other person.
373:
349:
162:
473:
functional cornerstones (Detect, Control, Engage) and the five operational cornerstones:
420:
as Fire Control Officer and subsequently Gunnery Officer for her conversion as the first
973:
843:, 1985 for scientific and technical progress in construction of the nation's Aegis fleet
592:
civil and military officials, and was especially involved with the Surface Navy and the
411:
397:
158:
1027:
849:
623:
369:
305:
959:
860:
634:
502:
437:
343:
337:
281:
209:
39:
548:
421:
277:
588:. He chaired and served on numerous panels and committees chartered by various
433:
377:
998:
Wayne E. Meyer: 1926–2009: Cold War Admiral Guided Navy's Antimissile Program
340:
130:
403:
followed by service on the Staff, Commander, Destroyer Force, Atlantic.
528:
360:
944:
Father of Aegis missile system remembered, Philly.com, October 5, 2009
742:
Rear Admiral Meyer's personal decorations and service medals include:
353:
392:, and served as instructor at the Special (atomic) Weapons School,
381:
333:
329:
629:
Admiral Meyer died on September 1, 2009, and was laid to rest at
824:
Distinguished Engineer Alumni Award, University of Kansas, 1981
324:(with Communications and Pre-Radar option). After 11 months at
697:
superstructure at the ship's commissioning on October 10, 2009
380:'s Red Army in March 1949. Probably the last U.S. warship in
272:. He also held a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering and a
821:
Old Crow Electronics Countermeasure Association Silver Medal
288:, and a B.S. degree in electrical engineering from the U.S.
888:. Bureau of Naval Personnel. October 1, 1984. p. 195
859:
Designated a Pioneer, Navy's Acquisition Hall of Fame in
576:, Meyer attended every commissioning of an Aegis ship.
1011:"Wayne E. Meyer dies at 83; retired Navy rear admiral"
352:. He was part of the force supporting the creation of
231:
Wayne E. Meyer was born to Eugene and Nettie Meyer in
584:
Rear Admiral Meyer ran a consultancy with offices in
605:
RADM Meyer is one of a handful of persons to have a
483:
Electronic Countermeasure and Environmental Immunity
911:"Wayne E. Meyer Father of the Aegis Weapons System"
199:
191:
181:
140:
125:
105:
95:
81:
69:
49:
30:
905:
903:
832:American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
508:The design of the first Aegis-equipped ships, the
1084:United States Navy personnel of the Vietnam War
866:2008 Missile Defense Agency Ronald Reagan Award
811:Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation
665:Christening at Bath Iron Works October 18, 2008
320:USNR, and the university awarded him a B.S. in
955:"Destroyer to be named for weapons developer"
852:for major contributions to Anti-Air Warfare,
396:. He returned to sea as Executive Officer on
8:
1089:United States Navy personnel of World War II
449:Center, Port Hueneme Division or NSWC PHD).
827:Naval Ordnance Engineer Certificate No. 99
308:. In June he was called to active duty as
27:
932:Father of Aegis missile system remembered
607:ship named in his honor while still alive
974:"Wayne E. Meyer: Awards and Decorations"
854:National Security Industrial Association
406:Later, he returned to Monterey to study
19:For other people named Wayne Meyer, see
875:
639:
1079:Burials at Arlington National Cemetery
16:Rear Admiral in the United States Navy
841:Rear Admiral William S. Parsons Award
613:announced on November 27, 2006, that
286:Massachusetts Institute of Technology
7:
252:in the Navy. Meyer passed the exam.
240:through eight combined in one room.
816:American Society of Naval Engineers
805:Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross
681:prior to launching October 18, 2008
590:United States Department of Defense
572:Following the commissioning of USS
567:American Society of Naval Engineers
934:, Philly.com News, October 5, 2009
728:at her commissioning with the USS
14:
1074:Recipients of the Legion of Merit
1059:Naval Postgraduate School alumni
1054:MIT School of Engineering alumni
1049:Military personnel from Missouri
795:Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
717:
702:
686:
670:
654:
642:
167:
157:
153:Navy Distinguished Service Medal
147:
129:
112:
44:Rear Admiral Wayne E. Meyer, USN
38:
1044:People from Brunswick, Missouri
376:'s Nationalist forces fell to
1:
1006:– September 9, 2009, page A19
784:Navy Occupation Service Medal
763:Meritorious Unit Commendation
661:Christening party at the USS
21:Wayne Meyer (disambiguation)
1069:United States Navy admirals
1064:University of Kansas alumni
976:. Naval Postgraduate School
913:. Naval Postgraduate School
747:Distinguished Service Medal
631:Arlington National Cemetery
87:Arlington National Cemetery
1105:
779:World War II Victory Medal
510:Ticonderoga-class cruisers
463:Naval Tactical Data System
368:, was in the mouth of the
18:
850:Admiral J. H. Sides Award
757:Meritorious Service Medal
611:Chief of Naval Operations
499:Naval Sea Systems Command
442:unrestricted line officer
388:, the Naval Line School,
312:, USNR, reporting to the
290:Naval Postgraduate School
260:Meyer graduated from the
173:Meritorious Service Medal
37:
432:In 1963, Navy Secretary
100:United States of America
807:with Palm Unit Citation
774:American Campaign Medal
765:ribbon with bronze star
525:Pascagoula, Mississippi
486:Continuous Availability
90:(Section 8, Site 10252)
789:National Defense Medal
738:Awards and decorations
677:Stern view of the USS
594:Missile Defense Agency
586:Crystal City, Virginia
501:. He was selected for
455:Frederic S. Withington
322:Electrical Engineering
270:Electrical Engineering
800:Vietnam Service Medal
1019:. September 2, 2009.
1000:by Stephen Miller –
408:Ordnance Engineering
390:Monterey, California
314:University of Kansas
262:University of Kansas
1003:Wall Street Journal
963:, October 10, 2009.
769:China Service Medal
300:He enlisted in the
266:Bachelor of Science
233:Brunswick, Missouri
185:Margaret (deceased)
63:Brunswick, Missouri
302:U.S. Naval Reserve
221:United States Navy
213:Wayne Eugene Meyer
120:United States Navy
1016:Los Angeles Times
818:Gold Medal (1976)
732:in the background
562:on July 4, 1991.
394:Norfolk, Virginia
386:Fort Bliss, Texas
310:Seaman Apprentice
276:degree (M.S.) in
274:Master of Science
207:
206:
73:September 1, 2009
1096:
1020:
986:
985:
983:
981:
970:
964:
952:
946:
941:
935:
929:
923:
922:
920:
918:
907:
898:
897:
895:
893:
880:
791:with bronze star
721:
706:
695:Wayne E. Meyer's
690:
674:
658:
646:
637:, Pennsylvania.
543:awarded 1985 to
237:Great Depression
171:
161:
151:
133:
118:
116:
115:
107:
76:
59:
57:
42:
28:
1104:
1103:
1099:
1098:
1097:
1095:
1094:
1093:
1024:
1023:
1009:
994:
989:
979:
977:
972:
971:
967:
953:
949:
942:
938:
930:
926:
916:
914:
909:
908:
901:
891:
889:
882:
881:
877:
873:
752:Legion of Merit
740:
733:
722:
713:
707:
698:
691:
682:
675:
666:
659:
650:
647:
619: (DDG-108)
582:
545:Bath Iron Works
514:Admiral Zumwalt
446:restricted line
430:
374:Chiang Kai-shek
350:Greek Civil War
298:
264:in 1946 with a
258:
229:
227:Early childhood
200:Other work
186:
177:
163:Legion of Merit
113:
111:
91:
89:
74:
61:
55:
53:
45:
33:
24:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1102:
1100:
1092:
1091:
1086:
1081:
1076:
1071:
1066:
1061:
1056:
1051:
1046:
1041:
1036:
1026:
1025:
1022:
1021:
1007:
993:
992:External links
990:
988:
987:
965:
947:
936:
924:
899:
874:
872:
869:
868:
867:
864:
857:
847:
844:
839:Navy League's
837:
834:
830:Fellow in the
828:
825:
822:
819:
813:
808:
802:
797:
792:
786:
781:
776:
771:
766:
759:
754:
749:
739:
736:
735:
734:
726:Wayne E. Meyer
723:
716:
714:
711:Wayne E. Meyer
708:
701:
699:
692:
685:
683:
679:Wayne E. Meyer
676:
669:
667:
663:Wayne E. Meyer
660:
653:
651:
648:
641:
617:Wayne E. Meyer
581:
580:Recent history
578:
491:
490:
487:
484:
481:
478:
429:
426:
412:guided-missile
297:
294:
257:
254:
228:
225:
205:
204:
201:
197:
196:
193:
189:
188:
183:
179:
178:
176:
175:
165:
155:
144:
142:
138:
137:
127:
123:
122:
109:
103:
102:
97:
93:
92:
85:
83:
79:
78:
77:(aged 83)
71:
67:
66:
60:April 21, 1926
51:
47:
46:
43:
35:
34:
32:Wayne E. Meyer
31:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1101:
1090:
1087:
1085:
1082:
1080:
1077:
1075:
1072:
1070:
1067:
1065:
1062:
1060:
1057:
1055:
1052:
1050:
1047:
1045:
1042:
1040:
1037:
1035:
1032:
1031:
1029:
1018:
1017:
1012:
1008:
1005:
1004:
999:
996:
995:
991:
975:
969:
966:
962:
961:
956:
951:
948:
945:
940:
937:
933:
928:
925:
912:
906:
904:
900:
887:
886:
879:
876:
870:
865:
862:
858:
855:
851:
848:
845:
842:
838:
835:
833:
829:
826:
823:
820:
817:
814:
812:
809:
806:
803:
801:
798:
796:
793:
790:
787:
785:
782:
780:
777:
775:
772:
770:
767:
764:
760:
758:
755:
753:
750:
748:
745:
744:
743:
737:
731:
727:
720:
715:
712:
705:
700:
696:
689:
684:
680:
673:
668:
664:
657:
652:
645:
640:
638:
636:
632:
627:
625:
624:Olympia Snowe
620:
618:
612:
608:
603:
601:
600:
595:
591:
587:
579:
577:
575:
570:
568:
563:
561:
560:
559:Arleigh Burke
554:
550:
546:
541:
537:
532:
530:
526:
522:
520:
515:
511:
506:
504:
500:
495:
489:Area Coverage
488:
485:
482:
479:
477:Reaction Time
476:
475:
474:
470:
466:
464:
458:
456:
450:
447:
443:
439:
435:
427:
425:
423:
419:
418:
413:
409:
404:
402:
401:
395:
391:
387:
383:
379:
375:
371:
370:Huangpu River
367:
366:
362:
357:
355:
351:
347:
346:
342:
339:
335:
331:
327:
323:
317:
315:
311:
307:
306:valedictorian
303:
295:
293:
291:
287:
283:
279:
275:
271:
267:
263:
255:
253:
251:
247:
241:
238:
234:
226:
224:
222:
218:
214:
211:
202:
198:
194:
190:
184:
180:
174:
170:
166:
164:
160:
156:
154:
150:
146:
145:
143:
139:
136:
132:
128:
124:
121:
110:
104:
101:
98:
94:
88:
84:
80:
72:
68:
64:
52:
48:
41:
36:
29:
26:
22:
1014:
1001:
978:. Retrieved
968:
960:Courier-Post
958:
950:
939:
927:
915:. Retrieved
890:. Retrieved
884:
878:
861:the Pentagon
741:
729:
725:
710:
694:
693:View of USS
678:
662:
635:Philadelphia
628:
616:
604:
598:
583:
573:
571:
564:
558:
552:
533:
518:
507:
503:Rear Admiral
496:
492:
471:
467:
459:
451:
438:Eli T. Reich
431:
428:Later career
416:
405:
399:
364:
358:
344:
338:radar picket
318:
299:
296:Early career
282:Astronautics
259:
242:
230:
212:
210:Rear Admiral
208:
135:Rear Admiral
75:(2009-09-01)
25:
1039:2009 deaths
1034:1926 births
730:New Jersey
574:Ticonderoga
553:Ticonderoga
551:. Like the
549:Bath, Maine
365:Springfield
316:on July 1.
278:Aeronautics
246:Kansas City
1028:Categories
980:August 25,
917:August 25,
871:References
444:status to
434:Fred Korth
400:Strickland
378:Mao Zedong
268:(B.S.) in
203:Consultant
96:Allegiance
56:1926-04-21
892:March 19,
615:USS
599:Lake Erie
557:USS
480:Firepower
417:Galveston
398:USS
341:destroyer
284:from the
256:Education
182:Spouse(s)
519:Spruance
414:cruiser
345:Goodrich
192:Children
187:Anna Mae
106:Service/
529:Lebanon
361:cruiser
863:, 1997
856:, 1988
609:. The
540:DDG-37
521:-class
354:Israel
141:Awards
117:
108:branch
82:Buried
65:, U.S.
761:Navy
536:DDG-2
422:TALOS
382:China
372:when
334:Sonar
330:Radar
217:Aegis
982:2007
919:2007
894:2021
724:USS
538:and
280:and
250:V-12
126:Rank
70:Died
50:Born
328:in
326:MIT
1030::
1013:.
957:,
902:^
547:,
292:.
984:.
921:.
896:.
332:/
195:5
58:)
54:(
23:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
