Remembering Them Forever (RTF)!

Military Information:

• US Air Force
• Retired Military
• US Navy
• Vietnam Veteran
• Meritorious Service Medal
• Legion of Merit
• QR Code
• 2 War Veteran
• Operation Desert Storm
• Navy Commendation Medal
• 1-Alpha List
• National/American Defense Service Medal/Award
• Vietnam Service Medal
• Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
• RADM (Rear Admiral)

Bio:

Born: September 3, 1936

RADM Cole was born and grew up in Houston, Texas. In 1958, he graduated from The University of Texas, was commissioned as an Ensign in the United States Navy Supply Corps, and married Carol Lorraine Hurst.

His major assignments include Deputy Director of the Defense Logistics Agency, Virginia; US Pacific Fleet as the Pacific Fleet Supply Officer, Hawaii; Commanding Officer of the Naval Supply Center, California; and Naval Supply Systems Command, Virginia, as the Director of the Navy Field Contracting System.

Other noteworthy assignments were the Naval Nuclear Program/Atomic Energy Commission, Washington, D.C. and Maryland; Ships Parts Control Center Special Equipment Division (Nuclear Weapon and Nuclear Propulsion Repair Parts), Pennsylvania; Undersecretary of Defense as the Director of Weapons Systems Procurement and Chairman of the Defense Acquisition Regulation; Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Newport News Shipbuilding Company as the Contracts Officer and Director of the Office of Claims Analysis; and Supply Officer of USS Tripoli (LPH-10).
His Navy sponsored education include an Associate Research Fellow at the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Washington, D.C.; a MBA from Harvard Business School, Massachusetts; National Defense University Capstone Course, Virginia; and a short course at Harvard University, John Fitzgerald Kennedy School of Government, National Security Program. While aboard the USS Tripoli, he also became a Shellback and a member of the Domain of the Golden Dragon.

Service Period: Jun 1958 to Jul 1992
Branch: United States Navy
Awards and Decorations:
Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit (3), Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (2), Navy Commendation Medal w/"V". Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Navy Unit Commendation, Meritorious Unit.
Commendation, NDSM (2), Vietnam Service Medal (4), Philippine Presidential Unit Citation, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation, Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation, Republic of Vietnam Campaign, Naval Expert Pistol Shot Medal, Surface Warfare Insignia, Office of the Secretary of Defense Badge, Command Ashore Insignia.