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on 6 June 1969. He was promoted to vice admiral upon becoming
Commander of the Atlantic Fleet Submarine Force on 12 February 1970. He had additional duty as Submarine Operations Advisor for Polaris Operations, Atlantic Command and Supreme Allied Command Atlantic, Commander Submarines Allied Command,
504:
At 1100 on
January 17, 1955, after getting underway, Commander Wilkinson signaled "Underway on Nuclear Power." This historic message ushered in the nuclear age for the United States Navy, as well as the world. Wilkinson was the first commanding officer in a nuclear fleet that would eventually cover
355:. After the commissioning of that boat in July, he served on board for one year, making four war patrols. He had commissary, engineering, and electrical duties. During his time in the crew the submarine participated in the North African operation (Algeria-Morocco landings).
539:, Navy Department, Washington, D.C. Upon assignment to that billet he was promoted to the rank of rear admiral, six years below zone and the first non–Naval Academy graduate selected admiral after World War II. While in this role, he oversaw the development of the Navy's
381:
in
November 1944, following her loss the previous month, he returned to the United States. From January to March 1945 he was an instructor at the Submarine School, New London, Connecticut. He next served as executive officer and navigator of the submarine
426:
after passing one of the first of
Rickover's many such interviews, the mathematically-gifted Wilkinson "ultimately developed the nuclear physics equations and formulas for the team...and for the final reactor design" of the prototype reactor for
535:, the U.S. Navy's first nuclear-powered surface ship. After completion of that command and selection for promotion to rear admiral, he reported on 1 November 1963 as Director of the Submarine Warfare Division (OP-31), in the Office of the
497:, he presided over pre-commissioning and post-commissioning trials of the submarine. These trials established the capabilities of the nuclear-powered submarine and were used in the development of early nuclear-powered submarine tactics.
299:. The next year he had a teaching fellowship in chemistry at USC. During those two years he completed all of the course work for a doctorate, but never did a thesis or received any graduate degree. Commissioned as an ensign in the
550:
in April 1963. He also initiated the
Nuclear Propulsion Examining Board (NPEB) in the Atlantic and Pacific fleet, in which operational Navy line officers took over nuclear submarine inspection responsibilities from civilians at
295:. He graduated from the latter in 1938 with a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in chemistry. He taught chemistry there for a year. He also filled in and taught a course in mathematics. During this year he attended the
567:
and
Commander Submarine Force Western Atlantic. His final billet on active duty, from 1972 to 1974, was as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Submarine Warfare), OP-02, on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations.
858:
493:, the world's first nuclear-powered submarine. He took command of the ship upon her commissioning on 30 September 1954 and held that billet until relieved in June 1957. During his three-year tour aboard
215:
1044:
Winters, Ann (2017-03-28). Underway on
Nuclear Power! The Man Behind the Words: Eugene P. "Dennis" Wilkinson, Vice Admiral USN (Kindle Locations 6065-6066). The American Nuclear Society. Kindle Edition.
1158:
1236:
460:
in which he participated in action in the Korean area from 12 August to 2 November 1951. In
February 1952 Wilkinson had temporary duty for one month as commanding officer of the submarine
578:(COMSUBLANT) from 1970 to 1972 as its first nuclear-trained officer, and served as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Submarine Warfare from 1972 until his retirement in 1974.
1226:
1113:"Wilkinson Receives Nuclear Statesman Award for Shaping Commercial Nuclear Program That Promotes Excellence" ... "... during his tenure as the first president of the
912:
1231:
1211:
1013:
Winters, Ann (2017-03-28). "Underway on
Nuclear Power" -- The Man Behind the Words: Eugene P. "Dennis" Wilkinson, Vice Admiral USN. The American Nuclear Society.
966:
First
Commanding Officer of USS NAUTILUS (SSN 571) 50th Anniversary of NAUTILUS' First Underway on Nuclear Power Submarine Force Museum Monday, January 17, 2005
1023:
959:
1196:
1074:
1064:
Winters, Ann. "Underway on Nuclear Power" -- The Man Behind the Words: Eugene P. "Dennis" Wilkinson, Vice Admiral USN. The American Nuclear Society.
759:
1241:
1206:
1186:
408:, where he completed the assigned course in May 1947. From June 1947 until April 1948, Wilkinson was executive officer and navigator of
1216:
1191:
489:
Wilkinson then carried out a series of temporary assignments by way of preparation for becoming prospective commanding officer of USS
341:, for instruction in submarines. After completing the course in March 1942, he served in the engineering department of the submarine
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893:
887:
211:
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453:, area, as chief of the operations branch and Bureau of Ships representative. In May 1950 he assumed command of the submarine
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559:
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237:
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officer. He was selected for three historic command assignments. The first, in 1954, was as the first commanding officer of
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1098:
575:
266:, America's first nuclear surface ship. The third was in 1980 when he was chosen as the first President and CEO of the
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1031:
956:
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610:
198:
186:
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980:
806:
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most of the aircraft carriers, several cruisers, and the entire submarine fleet for the United States Navy.
851:
571:
206:
117:
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and on her commissioning on 10 May of that year became her first commanding officer. He was detached from
840:
558:
On 23 November 1966, he assumed duties as Chief of Staff for the U.S. Forces in Japan. After earning the
438:
829:
774:
404:
Upon his transfer from the Naval Reserve to the U.S. Navy, he was ordered to the General Line School,
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905:
536:
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259:, the world's first nuclear-powered submarine. The second was as the first commanding officer of
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at New London, Connecticut, for a year and had brief temporary duty as commanding officer of
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383:
288:
1054:
http://www.navytimes.com/article/20130715/NEWS04/307150022/First-CO-command-nuclear-sub-dies
824:
517:, Newport, Rhode Island, Wilkinson served as Commander Submarine Division 102, a subunit of
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127:
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due to an injury to the assigned CO. From January to May 1952 he fitted out the submarine
8:
785:
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In September 1959 he became the initial commanding officer of the guided missile cruiser
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successfully attacked surface ships without being detected and evaded most pursuers.
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He died on July 11, 2013. A biography on his life was published in 2017 by the
219:
1126:
555:, as well as the associated Operational Reactor Safeguards Examination (ORSE).
552:
876:
After retiring from the Navy Admiral Wilkinson received the following awards:
813:
437:
From April 1948 to April 1950, he completed assignments at the Oak Ridge; the
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780:
461:
349:
334:
316:
134:
87:
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365:
which participated in four war patrols, including the Truk attack and the
358:
From June 1943 to October 1944 Wilkinson was in the crew of the submarine
325:, in which he had duty in the engineering department until December 1941.
987:
763:
629:
622:
370:
190:
971:
The Reminiscences of Vice Admiral Eugen P. Wilkinson U.S. Navy (Retired)
992:
389:
from March to October 1945 and had similar duty on board the submarine
176:
162:
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Wife, Janice; Daughter, Marian Lynn; Sons, Dennis, Stephen, and Rodney
390:
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30:
409:
342:
287:, the son of Dennis William and Daisy Parks Wilkinson. He attended
540:
442:
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for his service in Japan, Admiral Wilkinson assumed command of
513:
After spending the following academic year as a student at the
882:
835:
593:
During his noteworthy naval career, Admiral Wilkinson earned:
348:
in April and May, after which he was ordered to the submarine
1237:
Members of the United States National Academy of Engineering
1077:. United States Navy Submarine Force Museum. Archived from
957:
Remarks by VADM Eugene P. "Dennis" Wilkinson, USN (ret.)
994:
Submarine Stories: Recollections from the Diesel Boats.
303:
on 12 December 1940, he was transferred to the regular
968:
Wilkinson, Eugene P., Stillwell, Paul, (interviewer).
939:
1227:Recipients of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal
613:with two gold stars (3 awards - 1969, 1972, 1974)
1168:
273:
1232:Recipients of the Order of the Sacred Treasure
1212:United States Navy personnel of the Korean War
760:European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
315:Wilkinson's commissioned service began in the
1075:"VADM Eugene P. "Dennis" Wilkinson (retired)"
508:
1197:United States Navy personnel of World War II
1115:Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO)
861:(National Association of Wool Manufacturers)
268:Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO)
919:Henry DeWolf Smyth Nuclear Statesman Award
220:Henry DeWolf Smyth Nuclear Statesman Award
29:
248:(August 10, 1918 – July 11, 2013) was a
913:Elected National Academy of Engineering
888:Navy Meritorious Civilian Service Award
337:, with orders to the Submarine School,
212:Navy Meritorious Civilian Service Award
1169:
445:as an associate engineer, and at the
238:Institute of Nuclear Power Operations
588:
399:
576:Submarine Force U.S. Atlantic Fleet
543:program in response to the loss of
163:Submarine Force U.S. Atlantic Fleet
35:Vice Admiral Eugene Parks Wilkinson
13:
1242:Military personnel from California
1207:United States submarine commanders
1187:People from Long Beach, California
892:1983 George Washington Gold Medal
283:Wilkinson, born in August 1918 in
14:
1253:
1217:Recipients of the Legion of Merit
1192:San Diego State University alumni
1127:"Walter H. Zinn Award recipients"
297:University of Southern California
1157: This article incorporates
1152:
1099:L'Harmattan web site (in French)
942:
881:
870:Submarine Combat Patrol insignia
864:
845:
834:
823:
812:
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793:
779:
768:
752:
746:
727:
721:
714:
707:
700:
686:
673:
667:
652:
647:Joint Service Commendation Medal
640:
628:
616:
611:Navy Distinguished Service Medal
604:
597:
199:Joint Service Commendation Medal
481:
328:
310:
270:from which he retired in 1984.
246:Eugene Parks "Dennis" Wilkinson
1119:
1103:
1092:
1067:
1058:
1047:
1038:
1016:
1007:
872:with three bronze service star
807:National Defense Service Medal
735:Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
681:American Defense Service Medal
1:
1202:Recipients of the Silver Star
1131:Honors and Awards, Recipients
1000:
854:, Second Class (Japan) (1969)
447:U.S. Atomic Energy Commission
424:Oak Ridge National Laboratory
278:
274:Biography and military career
852:Order of the Sacred Treasure
570:He retired with the rank of
369:. Wilkinson was awarded the
207:Order of the Sacred Treasure
7:
1222:United States Navy admirals
935:
841:Philippine Liberation Medal
560:Distinguished Service Medal
439:Argonne National Laboratory
377:. Officially detached from
187:Distinguished Service Medal
10:
1258:
830:United Nations Korea Medal
775:World War II Victory Medal
509:Later career and Admiralty
333:Wilkinson was detached in
537:Chief of Naval Operations
233:
225:
182:
168:
123:
113:
105:
93:
83:
67:
48:
40:
28:
21:
1135:American Nuclear Society
1111:Nuclear Energy Institute
929:American Nuclear Society
583:American Nuclear Society
451:Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
88:United States of America
693:American Campaign Medal
574:, having commanded the
373:for his service aboard
339:New London, Connecticut
293:San Diego State College
1159:public domain material
659:Navy Unit Commendation
285:Long Beach, California
203:Navy Unit Commendation
62:Long Beach, California
23:Eugene Parks Wilkinson
1024:"USS Nautilus Events"
991:Stillwell, Paul, ed.
900:Oliver Townsend Medal
519:Submarine Squadron 10
418:Joining then-Captain
406:Newport, Rhode Island
289:Holtville, California
106:Years of service
977:U.S. Naval Institute
925:Walter H. Zinn Award
819:Korean Service Medal
564:Submarine Flotilla 2
367:Battle of Leyte Gulf
1028:www.ussnautilus.org
859:Golden Fleece Award
786:China Service Medal
307:on 28 August 1946.
216:Golden Fleece Award
209:, 2nd Class (Japan)
78:Del Mar, California
1163:United States Navy
962:2011-06-13 at the
683:with "FLEET" clasp
301:U.S. Naval Reserve
291:, High School and
250:United States Navy
100:United States Navy
906:Uranium Institute
589:Honors and awards
515:Naval War College
420:Hyman G. Rickover
400:Post World War II
243:
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1030:. Archived from
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950:Biography portal
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964:Wayback Machine
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635:Legion of Merit
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234:Other work
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195:Legion of Merit
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59:August 10, 1918
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36:
24:
17:
16:US Navy officer
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11:
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1034:on 2011-06-13.
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553:Naval Reactors
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478:in June 1953.
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75:(aged 94)
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1161:from the
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1109:News Release
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1081:on 2010-05-19
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335:San Francisco
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317:heavy cruiser
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71:July 11, 2013
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63:
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43:
39:
32:
27:
20:
1151:
1140:February 14,
1138:. Retrieved
1130:
1121:
1105:
1094:
1083:. Retrieved
1079:the original
1069:
1060:
1049:
1040:
1032:the original
1027:
1018:
1009:
993:
969:
955:
886:
875:
850:
839:
828:
817:
784:
773:
739:battle stars
691:
657:
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633:
621:
609:
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572:Vice Admiral
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329:World War II
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311:Early career
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244:
173:World War II
169:Battles/wars
157:
150:
143:
136:
129:
118:Vice Admiral
73:(2013-07-11)
1182:2013 deaths
1177:1918 births
975:Annapolis:
764:battle star
623:Silver Star
371:Silver Star
191:Silver Star
41:Nickname(s)
1171:Categories
1085:2007-01-15
1001:References
908:Gold Medal
737:with four
532:Long Beach
322:Louisville
279:Early life
263:Long Beach
177:Korean War
158:Long Beach
84:Allegiance
55:1918-08-10
927:from the
809:with star
762:with one
545:USS
530:USS
469:USS
464:Sea Robin
462:USS
455:USS
429:USS
410:USS
391:USS
384:USS
360:USS
352:Blackfish
350:USS
343:USS
320:USS
305:U.S. Navy
261:USS
254:USS
226:Relations
156:USS
149:USS
142:USS
137:Sea Robin
135:USS
128:USS
109:1940–1974
988:73501313
979:, 2006.
960:Archived
936:See also
547:Thresher
523:Nautilus
499:Nautilus
495:Nautilus
491:Nautilus
484:Nautilus
431:Nautilus
386:Menhaden
256:Nautilus
151:Nautilus
124:Commands
94:Service/
541:SubSafe
457:Volador
449:in the
443:Chicago
130:Volador
997:2007.
986:
661:(1944)
649:(1964)
637:(1953)
625:(1944)
379:Darter
375:Darter
362:Darter
183:Awards
96:branch
44:Dennis
923:1998
917:1994
911:1990
904:1989
898:1984
880:1976
857:1955
476:Wahoo
471:Wahoo
393:Raton
144:Wahoo
1142:2011
984:OCLC
981:OCLC
894:ASME
482:USS
412:Cusk
345:R-10
114:Rank
68:Died
49:Born
441:in
422:at
1173::
1133:.
1129:.
1026:.
585:.
525:.
434:.
415:.
396:.
1144:.
1088:.
973:.
931:.
57:)
53:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
