Daniel Joseph Murphy, Sr.

Admiral, U.S. Navy

Daniel Joseph Murphy, Sr. was born on 24 March 1922 and grew up in Brooklyn, NY. He graduated from the University of Maryland and the Naval War College. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1943, during his second year at St. John's University in New York, and flew anti-submarine patrols over the North Atlantic during World War II.

During the 1960s he was Commanding Officer of the aircraft carrier USS Bennington. He commanded the 6th Fleet in the Mediterranean during the Arab-Israeli War of 1973 and the Cyprus Crisis of 1974. Murphy was principal Military Assistant to successive Secretaries of Defense Melvin R. Laird and Elliot Richardson. He was promoted to the four-star rank of Admiral and served as Deputy Director of the CIA in 1976-77

He retired from active service in 1977.

In Retirement

He was Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Policy at the Pentagon from 1977-80 under Jimmy Carter. He was Vice President George H. W. Bush's Chief of Staff from 1981-85. At the end of Ronald Reagan's first term, Murphy left government to join the Washington, DC, lobbying and public relations firm Gray and Company; he later joined Hill & Knowlton Worldwide as a vice chairman.

He founded Murphy & Associates in Georgetown providing public affairs and consulting support to U.S. and international firms. He facilitated former President George H.W. Bush's celebratory visit to Kuwait in 1993.

Personal

Murphy's son, Vice Admiral Daniel Murphy, Jr. commanded the 6th Fleet from 1998 to 2000.

Death and Burial

Admiral Daniel Joseph Murphy, Sr. died on 21 September 2001 and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA.

He was survived by his wife Elaine (died 7 December 2001); two sons, retired Vice Adm. Daniel J. Murphy Jr. and Thomas Murphy; two daughters, Shaun Murphy and Pamela Murphy; eight grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.