The most influential person in US Naval History?

Question

Who do you think was the most influential person in the History of the US Navy and Why?

John Paul Jones, Chester Nitiz and others may be listed, but why do you think they hold a special place in Navy History?

Darn Keyboard is killing me. It is Chester Nimitz, sorry for the mis-spelling

Answer 1

Rickover.

He turned the navy into a nuclear navy, and was personally responsible for the fact that the nuclear naval ships don't have to report to the DOE.

Every aircraft carrier, ever submarine, all of them are due to Rickover.

Answer 2

What a shame it is that the majority chooses Rickover based on the fact that he was the driving force to go nuclear. Revolutionary idea, yes... most influential... I can tell you that in 28 years of Naval Service, I have NEVER been asked or had exam questions about him.

Consider this... the Navy wouldn't be what it is today without John Paul Jones' "I have not yet begun to fight", or Farragut's "Damn the torpedoes".

And my vote goes to the pioneer of 20th century Naval strategy....

Rear Admiral Alfred Thayer Mahan (September 27, 1840–December 1, 1914) was a United States Navy officer, geostrategist, and educator. His ideas on the importance of sea power influenced navies around the world, and helped prompt naval buildups before World War I. Several ships were named USS Mahan, including the lead vessel of a class of destroyers. His research into naval History led to his most important work, The Influence of Seapower Upon History,1660-1783, published in 1890.

Answer 3

It's a tie in my mind between two men. First is Rear Admiral Alfred Thayer Mahan who commanded the Naval War College for many years and was the father of the modern Navy in terms of tactics and strategy. The second is Admiral Hyman Rickover who was the father of the nuclear Navy, allowing that Navy to build a fleet of surface ships and submarines that had absolutely no reliance on fossil-fuels for their propulsion systems.
John Paul Jones was a commanding officer who displayed courage on board a vessel which was the model for all of the American warships to follow in the age of sail. Chester Nimitz was a Naval officer who quickly restored the fighting spirit and capabilities of the U.S. Pacific Fleet after the attack on Pearl Harbor and, within a period of less than a year, had overseen Naval battles which killed off over 80% of the Japanese Naval aviators who had carried out that attack on Pearl Harbor.

Answer 4

Rear Admiral Alfred Thayer Mahan (September 27, 1840–December 1, 1914) was a United States Navy officer, geostrategist, and educator. His ideas on the importance of sea power influenced navies around the world, and helped prompt naval buildups before World War I. Several ships were named USS Mahan, including the lead vessel of a class of destroyers. His research into naval History led to his most important work, The Influence of Seapower Upon History,1660-1783, published in 1890.

Answer 5

Admiral Hyman G. Rickover, in recent history anyway. The man built the Nuclear Navy as we know it, made the submarine the weapons platform that it is by making the power source a reality so a sub can remain submerged for months at a time. Aircraft carriers are now the main warrior arm and without nuclear power, would not be practical for extended deployments of many months. The man had vision and gave us the greatest weapons in the history of the cold war. Before Rickover, I would have to go with Leonardo Di Vinci. At the time, Di Vinci's designs could not be built as the materials and engineering did not yet exist, but in theory, his designs would have WORKED if he had the materials and engineering we have today. I was in submarines, and I personally did NOT like Rickover. The man was cruel and unforgiving. He visited the sub I was on in the early 70's and was turned away because he would not show his ID card to the topside sentry. The boat I was on was highly classified on what we did and believe it or not, Rickover was on the list for access, but without positive ID, NO ONE was allowed on board. (Read the book, "Blind Man's Bluff" for details of the kind of thing we were or were not doing at the time.) The topside watch did the absolute correct thing, denied access without a positive ID of the person involved. The sentry was later chastised for not allowing the admiral on board (Rickover always wore civilian clothes) and later, Rickover's picture was placed in the topside shack with a notation that this man was to be allowed on board without any other identification other than ID by the picture...

Answer 6

Hyman Rickover, he more than anyone forced the US Navy to modernize. (the Japanese helped too)

John F. Kennedy is another good one. He was a PT boat commander in WWII and saw the importance of small units in a battleship navy. He was the President that started the Navy Seals, and time will tell just how prophetic that was.

Answer 7

There is so many but non of then would have been w/o the father of the navy John Paul Jones

Answer 8

I second: Adm Hyman G Rickover.

Answer 9

HAHAHAHAHA!!! The Navy has a long rich history full of blow-hards.

Answer 10

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