SPEAKERS

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Admiral Richard C. Macke

Admiral Richard C. Macke was born in Freeport, Illinois. A 1956 graduate of Kirkland High School in Kirkland, Illinois, he graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1960. After graduation, he reported to flight training in Pensacola, Florida, and was designated a Naval Aviator in August 1961. He then reported to VA-23 in Lemoore, California and flew A-4 Skyhawks from USS MIDWAY (CV-41).

In 1965, Admiral Macke was selected for Test Pilot Training and entered the Navy Test Pilot School at Patuxent River, Maryland. Following graduation and designation as a test pilot, he served in the Weapons System Test Directorate of the Naval Air Test Center participating in the initial trials of the A-7A, Corsair II aircraft. He next went to VA-27, flying A-7.s and completing more than 150 combat missions in Southeast Asia from the USS CONSTELLATION (CV-64).

Admiral Macke reported to the U.S Naval Postgraduate School in February 1970, where he graduated with distinction with a Master of Science degree in Operations Research and Systems Analysis. In March 1971, he reported to VA-66 at Cecil Field, Florida as Executive Officer and later as Commanding Officer of the A-7E squadron flying from the USS INDEPENDENCE (CV-62).

In January of 1975, he was assigned to the Navy Office of Legislative Affairs in the Pentagon, where he was involved in presenting the Naval Aviation Program budget to members of Congress and their staffs. Following completion of Nuclear Propulsion Training, Admiral Macke served as Executive Officer of USS NIMITZ (CVN-68) where he participated in the attempted rescue of American hostages in Iran. Completing that tour, he was selected for major ship command and commanded the USS CAMDEN (AOE-2), successfully completing a 14-month complex overhaul in San Francisco, California, which was the largest ever awarded to the private sector on the West Coast of the United States.

Admiral Macke served a short tour as the Executive Assistant to the Navy Director of Command and Control in the Pentagon prior to reporting to the USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER (CVN-69) as commanding officer in July of 1984. During his highly successful tour on IKE, the ship was awarded the Battle .E. as the most combat ready aircraft carrier on the East Coast of the United States.

Admiral Macke was selected for flag rank and upon leaving the IKE reported as the Commander of the Naval Space Command where he led initiatives to enhance space support to tactical warriors. Next, he reported as the Commander of Carrier Group TWO in March of 1988, where he completed a deployment to the Mediterranean and in January 1990 was selected for sequential command and became Commander Carrier Group FOUR. Admiral Macke was then nominated by President Bush to serve in the grade of Vice Admiral as the Director for Command, Control, Communications and Computer (C4) System (J6) on the Joint Staff in the Pentagon. In December 1992, General Colin Powell chose Admiral Macke to serve as the Director of the Joint Staff.

Admiral Macke was nominated and confirmed for the four star grade of Admiral and left the Joint Staff to become the Commander in Chief, US Pacific Command in July 1994. He commanded all the United States Military Forces in a region encompassing over 50 percent of the earth.s surface until his retirement in January 1996.

Following retirement, Admiral Macke became the Senior Vice President, Pacific Rim Operations for Wheat International Communications Corporation headquartered in Reston, Virginia. The Hawaii Office, under his direction, became the revenue leader for the company. He now has started his own company, Warrior Information Technologies, LLC, in Hawaii where he resides with his wife Susie.

As a long time benefactor and supporter of the Navy League of the United States, Dick joined upon retirement and has served as a Director for the Honolulu Council, President of the Pacific Region, and is currently a National Vice President. Dick Macke has vast experience in leadership, management and the information technology arena.

Admiral Macke.s decorations and awards include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, fourteen Strike/Flight Air Medals, an individual Air Medal, Navy Commendation Medal and various service and campaign medals. He is a member of the Navy League of the United States, Society of Experimental Test Pilots and the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association. He is a National Vice President for the Navy League. He also serves on the Boards of the Sino-American Aviation Heritage Foundation and the Pacific Aviation Museum at Pearl Harbor.