Robert J. Murray

US Under Secretary of the Navy

Robert J. Murray was United States Under Secretary of the Navy in 1980–81.

Robert J. Murray
United States Under Secretary of the Navy
In office
February 7, 1980 – September 29, 1981
PresidentJimmy Carter
Preceded byR. James Woolsey Jr.
Succeeded byJames F. Goodrich
Personal details
Education
  • Suffolk University (BS)
  • Harvard University (MPA)

He was born in Marlborough, Massachusetts. He was educated at Suffolk University, receiving a B.S. in 1961. He then attended Harvard University, receiving an M.P.A. in 1966.

Upon graduation, Murray joined the United States Foreign Service and was posted as a political attaché at the Embassy of the United States in London from 1966 to 1972.

In 1973, he was appointed Assistant to the United States Secretary of Defense and the United States Deputy Secretary of Defense, serving under Elliot Richardson and later James R. Schlesinger. In 1975, President of the United States Richard Nixon appointed Murray as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (Manpower and Reserve Affairs), a post he held until 1976. During his time at the United States Department of Defense, Murray worked on implementing a new NATO strategy; transitioning the United States Armed Forces following the ending of the Vietnam War; and the transition of the United States Armed Forces to a volunteer military.

In 1978, President Jimmy Carter appointed Murray as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (International Security Affairs). During this period, he participated in Carter's negotiation of the Camp David Accords between Israel and Egypt.

President Carter nominated Murray as Under Secretary of the Navy on January 17, 1980. He was sworn in on February 7, 1980, and served as Under Secretary until September 29, 1981.

Following his stint as Under Secretary, Murray moved from public service to academia. He first joined the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island in 1981 as Dean of the newly established and Center for Naval Warfare Studies and first director of the Strategic Studies Group.[1] In 1983, he became a member of the faculty of the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University as director of the School's national security program. Murray retired from teaching in 1990. In 1996, Murray was elected as a fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration.[2]

After his retirement from teaching, Murray served as president and chief executive officer of CNA.

References

  1. ^ Hattendorf; et al. (1984). Sailors and Scholars: the Centennial History of the Naval War College. Newport, RI: Naval War College Press.
  2. ^ Incorporated, Prime. "National Academy of Public Administration". National Academy of Public Administration. Retrieved 2023-04-17.
  • Archive of press release naming Murray Under Secretary of the Navy
  • Profile of Murray on CNA website
Government offices
Preceded by Under Secretary of the Navy
February 7, 1980 – September 29, 1981
Succeeded by
  • v
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Secretaries
Cabinet-level
Dept. of Defense




Under
SecretariesAssistant
Secretaries
Pre–1954
Post–1954
  • Financial Management and Comptroller
  • Energy, Installations and Environment
  • Manpower and Reserve Affairs
  • Research, Development and Acquisitions
  • General Counsel of the Navy
  • defunct:
    • Air
    • Installations and Logistics
    • Material
    • Research and Development
    • Research, Engineering and Systems
    • Shipbuilding and Logistics
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International
  • FAST
  • VIAF
National
  • United States