Rear Admiral Benjamin Thurman Hacker (1935-2003) was a U.S. Navy officer, who became the first Naval Flight Officer (NFO) to achieve Flag rank. Naval Flight Officer Badge Flight Officer Astronaut Badge The Naval Flight Officer Badge is a decoration of the United States military which is awarded to those aviators of the Navy and Marine Corps who have qualified as Flight Officers onboard military aircraft. ... A flank rank is one of naval officer ranks that permit its holder to fly a flag to represent where he exercises his command. ...

RADM Benjamin T. Hacker

Portrait of RADM Hacker. ... Portrait of RADM Hacker. ...

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, is an accomplished musician. Of their three children, Benjamin was the eldest. 1935 (MCMXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Aerial photo (looking NW) of the Washington Monument and the White House in Washington, DC. Washington, D.C., officially the District of Columbia (also known as D.C.; Washington; the Nations Capital; the District; and, historically, the Federal City) is the capital city and administrative district of the United... The United States Army is the largest branch of the United States armed forces and has primary responsibility for land-based military operations. ...

Benjamin attended Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio, graduating in 1957 with a B.A. Degree in Science. He married his wife Jeanne, in 1958. Myers Hall - Wittenberg University Wittenberg University is a private, four-year liberal arts college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America located in Springfield, Ohio. ... Springfield is the county seat of Clark County in the State of Ohio. ... 1957 (MCMLVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

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 Flight Officer. Hacker gained experience as a Tactical Coordinator in P2V "Neptune" and P3C "Orion" aircraft through numerous operational assignments in the far reaches of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and Mediterranean Sea. USN redirects here. ... Nickname: The City of Five Flags Location of the city within the state of Florida Country United States State Florida County Escambia County, Florida Mayor John Fogg Area    - City 102. ... 1958 (MCMLVIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... A navigator is the person onboard a ship responsible for the navigation of the vessel. ... P2V-7 Neptune of Patrol Squadron Seven (VP-7) over the Atlantic in 1954 The Lockheed P-2 Neptune (until 1963 the P2V Neptune) was a naval patrol bomber and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) aircraft for the United States Navy between 1947 and 1978, replacing the PV-1 Ventura and... The Lockheed P-3 Orion is a maritime patrol aircraft of the United States military used primarily for maritime patrol, reconnaissance, and anti-submarine warfare. ... An Airbus A380, currently the worlds largest airliner An aircraft is any vehicle or craft capable of atmospheric flight. ... The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest ocean, covering approximately one-fifth of the Earths surface. ... View of the Pacific Ocean from Oregon. ... Ocean (Okeanos, a Greek god of sea and water; Greek ωκεανός) covers almost three quarters (71%) of the surface of the Earth. ... Composite satellite image of the Mediterranean Sea. ...

He took command[1] of the U.S. Naval Facility, Barbados, West Indies in 1968. In 1972 he established the Naval ROTC Unit[2] at Florida A & M University, 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 TWENTY-FOUR (VP-24), a P3C "Orion" Squadron stationed in Jacksonville, Florida. The Caribbean or the West Indies is a group of islands in the Caribbean Sea. ... For the Doctor Who science fiction episode, see Rise of the Cybermen. ... Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, commonly known as Florida A&M or FAMU (Pronounced fam-you), is a historically black university located in Tallahassee, Florida and is one of eleven institutions in Floridas State University System. ... Location Location in Leon County and the state of Florida. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... In military organizations, the commanding officer (CO) is the officer in command of a military unit. ... The Lockheed P-3 Orion is a maritime patrol aircraft of the United States military used primarily for maritime patrol, reconnaissance, and anti-submarine warfare. ... Flag Seal Motto: Where Florida Begins Location Location in the state of Florida Coordinates , Government Country State County United States Florida Duval Mayor John Peyton (R) Geographical characteristics Area     City 2,264. ...

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. The Industrial College of the Armed Forces (ICAF) is a U.S. military educational institution tasked with preparing military officers and civilian government officials for leadership and executive positions in the field of national security. ...   The George Washington University (GWU) is a private, coeducational, non-sectarian university located in Washington, D.C.. Founded in 1821 as The Columbian College on land provided by former President George Washington, the university has since developed into one of the worlds leading educational and research institutions. ... 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday. ... Seal of Brunswick, ME Brunswick is a town located in Cumberland County, Maine. ... Official language(s) None (English de facto) Capital Augusta Largest city Portland Area  Ranked 39th  - Total 33,414 sq mi (86,542 km²)  - Width 210 miles (338 km)  - Length 320 miles (515 km)  - % water 13. ...

In 1980 Rear Admiral Hacker was selected for flag rank, 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, Sixth Fleet; and Commander Maritime Air Forces Mediterranean with headquarters in Naples Italy. In 1986 he was assigned to 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. 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday. ... Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. ... Official language(s) English Capital Springfield Largest city Chicago Area  Ranked 25th  - Total 57,918 sq mi (149,998 km²)  - Width 210 miles (340 km)  - Length 390 miles (629 km)  - % water 4. ... Composite satellite image of the Mediterranean Sea. ... The Sixth Fleet is a US Navy operational unit, headquartered on the command ship La Salle (AGF-3) with its homeport in Gaeta, Italy and operating in the Mediterranean Sea. ... Country Italy Region Campania Province Naples (NA) Mayor Rosa Russo Jervolino Elevation 17 m Area 117 km² Population  - Total (as of December 31, 2004) 1,000,470  - Density 8,457/km² Time zone CET, UTC+1 Coordinates Gentilic Napoletani Dialing code 081 Postal code 80100 Patron Saint Januarius  - Day September... 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... It has been suggested that Downtown San Diego be merged into this article or section. ... 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... It has been suggested that Downtown San Diego be merged into this article or section. ... The multinational Combined Task Force One Five Zero (CTF-150) The British Grand Fleet, the supreme naval force of World War I A rare occurrence of a 5-country multinational fleet, during Operation Enduring Freedom in the Oman Sea. ...

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. A navigator is the person onboard a ship responsible for the navigation of the vessel. ... Naval Flight Officer Badge Flight Officer Astronaut Badge The Naval Flight Officer Badge is a decoration of the United States military which is awarded to those aviators of the Navy and Marine Corps who have qualified as Flight Officers onboard military aircraft. ... A flank rank is one of naval officer ranks that permit its holder to fly a flag to represent where he exercises his command. ...

On November 3, 2005 the "Commander, Task Force 67"[3] headquarters building located in Sigonella, Sicily was dedicated in his honor. Naval Air Station Sigonella, the Hub of the Med, is a U.S. Navy installation at an Italian Air Force base in Sicily, Italy. ...

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. Please wikify (format) this article or section as suggested in the Guide to layout and the Manual of Style. ... Nickname: City of Trees Location of Sacramento in California County Sacramento Mayor Heather Fargo Area    - City 99. ...

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. This article is about the year. ... Peter Barton Wilson (born August 23, 1933) is an American Republican politician from California. ... Nickname: Alamo City; River City Location in the state of Texas Coordinates: Counties Bexar County Mayor Phil Hardberger Area    - City 1067. ...

Hacker also held posts as Regional Senior Vice President/General Manager in the company's Mid-Atlantic Region headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia. Rear Admiral Hacker retired from USAA in 1998 but continued to serve on various local and national Boards. Motto: Crescas (Latin for, Thou shalt grow. ... Official language(s) English Capital Richmond Largest city Virginia Beach Area  Ranked 35th  - Total 42,793 sq mi (110,862 km²)  - Width 200 miles (320 km)  - Length 430 miles (690 km)  - % water 7. ...

On December 28th, 2003 Rear Admiral Hacker passed away from complications relating to Chronic lymphocytic Leukemia, (CLL) a disease which he battled for 12 years. 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Leukemia (or leukaemia; see spelling differences) is a cancer of the blood or bone marrow characterized by an abnormal proliferation of blood cells, usually white blood cells (leukocytes). ...

External links

Dedicated Sites/Pages

• Web Tribute
• Thoughts of those who knew him...
• CTF-67 (See: "Task Force History" link on home page Main Menu.)

Honorable Mention

• Arlington Cemetery
• The Chrysler Museum of Art "The Quilts of Gee's Bend" exhibit dedication
• NTC San Diego Center Commanders
• Navy Patrol Squadron VP-21
• Navy Patrol Squadron VP-24 *
• Alpha Phi Alpha
• Photos: NAVFAC Barbados, 1968 Change of Command

Articles

• Article in Attualità an Italian publication - December 2005(Item nolonger online)
• 200Plus Men news article - November 2005
• Armed Services YMCA, news letter - Spring/Summer 2004
• Tallahassee Democrat (FL) - February 24, 2004
• Virginian-Pilot, The (Norfolk, VA) - February 9, 2004, B9 [Title: Admiral was Pioneer for African Americans]
• Virginia-Pilot "Letter to the Editor" by Admiral Hacker July 1997
• Virginian-Pilot, The (Norfolk, VA) - February 11, 1997[4]
• USAA appoints new top gun for Mid-Atlantic Region, San Antonio Business Journal - January 29, 1997
• Ebony, - February 1983, 74 - 78 [Title: Admiral Hacker Takes Command]