Benjamin Thurman Hacker
{{Short description|United States Navy admiral (1935–2003)}}
{{Infobox military person
|name= Benjamin T. Hacker
|birth_date= {{birth date|1935|9|19}}
|death_date= {{death date and age|2003|12|28|1935|9|19}}
|birth_place= Washington, D.C., US
|death_place= Norfolk, Virginia, US
|placeofburial=Arlington National Cemetery
|placeofburial_label= Place of burial
|image= Hacker Benjamin T RADM.jpg
|caption=
|nickname=
|allegiance= United States of America
|branch= United States Navy
|serviceyears= 1958–1988
|rank= Rear Admiral (UH)
|commands= US Naval Facility Barbados, WI
NROTC Florida A & M University
Patrol Squadron 24 (VP-24)
NAS Brunswick, Maine
USMEPCOM
COMFAIRMED
COMARSURVRECFORSIXFLT
COMARAIRMED
NTC San Diego
Naval Base San Diego
|unit=
|battles=
|awards= Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal
|laterwork=Insurance Executive (USAA)
Director – CA Dept of Veterans Affairs
}}
Rear Admiral Benjamin Thurman Hacker (1935–2003) was a U.S. Naval officer, who became the first{{Cite web|url=http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=14714|title = CNO to NNOA: 21st Century Human CapitALL System Needed Now – Aug 13, 2004| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070210165710/http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=14714 | archive-date=2007-02-10 }} Naval Flight Officer (NFO) to achieve Flag rank.
Early life
Hacker was born September 19, 1935, in Washington, D.C. His father, C. Leroy Hacker, was an author, Baptist pastor and a chaplain in the U.S. Army. His mother, Alzeda (Crockett) Hacker, was an accomplished musician. Of their three children, Benjamin was the eldest.
Benjamin attended Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio, graduating in 1957 with a B.A. Degree in Science. He married his wife, Jeanne, in 1958.
Naval service
After completing the Navy's Aviation Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, Florida, in September 1958, Hacker was commissioned Ensign and subsequently received the designation of Naval Aviation Observer (NAO). Hacker gained experience as a Navigator and Tactical Coordinator in SP-2H "Neptune" and P-3C "Orion" aircraft through numerous operational assignments in the far reaches of the Atlantic{{Cite web|url=http://pub10.bravenet.com/photocenter/album.php?img=49141&usernum=774301397|title = Photo Library and Upload Center, 1966 Lt. Hacker}} and Pacific Oceans and Mediterranean Sea.
He took command of the United States Naval Facility, Barbados, West Indies on July 2, 1968.{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hTgDAAAAMBAJ&dq=Benjamin+hacker&pg=PA6|title = Jet, Oct 17, 1968 v.35, no.2, p6| date=17 October 1968 | publisher=Johnson Publishing Company }}{{Cite web|url=http://pub10.bravenet.com/photocenter/album.php?img=8686&usernum=774301397|title = Photo Library and Upload Center}} In 1972, he established the Naval ROTC Unit at Florida A & M University, in Tallahassee, Florida, and served as the first Commanding Officer and Professor of Naval Science of this unit. In 1974 he became Commanding Officer of Patrol Squadron 24 (VP-24),{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=B1sDAAAAMBAJ&dq=Benjamin+hacker&pg=PA50|title = Jet, Dec 12, 1974 v.47, no.12, p50| date=12 December 1974 | publisher=Johnson Publishing Company }} a P-3C Orion Squadron stationed in Jacksonville, Florida, and was promoted to captain following his squadron command tour.
In June 1978, he completed studies in National Security Policy at the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, and earned a Masters of Science Degree in Administration from George Washington University in Washington, D.C. In August 1978, he was assigned as Commanding Officer, Naval Air Station, Brunswick, Maine.
In 1980, then-Captain Hacker was selected for promotion to rear admiral and assumed duties as Commander, U.S. Military Enlistment Processing Command with headquarters in Fort Sheridan, Illinois. In 1982, he became Commander Fleet Air Mediterranean; Commander Maritime Surveillance and Reconnaissance Forces, U.S. Sixth Fleet; and Commander Maritime Air Forces Mediterranean{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8dgDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA74|title = Ebony, February 1983, p74-78| date=February 1983 | publisher=Johnson Publishing Company }}{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_7YDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA46|title = Jet, Sep 6, 1982 - v.62, no.26, p46| date=6 September 1982 | publisher=Johnson Publishing Company }}{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=giy81axAIT8C&dq=Benjamin+T+Hacker&pg=PA179|title = Ebony, August 1983, p179-180| date=August 1983 | publisher=Johnson Publishing Company }} simultaneously with headquarters in Naples, Italy. In 1986, he was assigned as Commander, Naval Training Center, San Diego. During this assignment he was also assigned Commander, Naval Base San Diego. He held both commands simultaneously for several months. In 1988, at the completion of his assignment as Commander, Naval Base San Diego, Rear Admiral Hacker retired from the U.S. Navy.
Rear Admiral Hacker was the first Naval Flight Officer (NFO) to be selected for Flag rank in the United States Navy. He held ten commands over the course of his 30-year military career. Included among Rear Admiral Hacker's personal decorations are the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit with three Gold Stars, and the Meritorious Service Medal.
On November 3, 2005, the "Commander, Task Force 67"{{cite web | url=https://www.cnic.navy.mil/Regions/cnreurafswa/installations/nas_sigonella/about/tenant_commands/commander_task_force_67/ | title=Commander, Navy Installations Command > Regions }} headquarters building located in Sigonella, Sicily was dedicated in his honor.
Civilian
After retiring from the Navy, Rear Admiral Hacker worked at financial-services firm USAA as assistant vice president for policy service, at the organization's western regional office in Sacramento.
In the early 1990s, at the request of then-Governor Pete Wilson, Hacker served for two years as director of the California Department of Veterans Affairs and then rejoined USAA as regional vice president and general manager of its western region. He moved to San Antonio in his next post in December 1995.
Hacker also held posts as Regional Senior Vice President/General Manager in the company's Mid-Atlantic Region{{Cite web|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/stories/1997/01/27/daily11.html?t=printable|title = San Antonio Business Journal – Jan 29, 1997}} headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia. Rear Admiral Hacker retired from USAA in 1998 but continued to serve on various local and national boards.
On December 28, 2003, Rear Admiral Hacker{{Cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/washingtonpost/Guestbook.asp?Page=Guestbook&PersonID=1746775|title = Thoughts of those who knew him...| website=Legacy.com }} died from complications relating to chronic lymphocytic leukemia, a disease which he battled for 12 years. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.[https://ancexplorer.army.mil/publicwmv/#/arlington-national/search/results/1/CgZoYWNrZXISCGJlbmphbWlu/ Burial Detail: Hacker, Benjamin T (Site 66, Grave 3566)] – ANC Explorer
References
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{{Portal|Biography}}
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Category:African-American United States Navy personnel
Category:Military personnel from Washington, D.C.
Category:Wittenberg University alumni
Category:George Washington University alumni
Category:United States Navy admirals
Category:United States Naval Flight Officers
Category:Deaths from leukemia in Virginia
Category:Recipients of the Legion of Merit