Alfred J. Whittle Jr.
Admiral, U.S. Navy

Alfred J. Whittle Jr. was born on 9 January 1924 in Mount Vernon, NY. He attended New York University for a year before entering the U.S. Naval Academy.

He graduated from the Academy with the Class of 1945 and was commissioned as an Ensign in the Navy. He began his 36-year career aboard the destroyer USS Harry E. Hubbard. He commanded the submarine USS Sterlet, the nuclear-powered submarine USS Seawolf and the Polaris-missile submarine USS Andrew Jackson.

In 1970, Whittle assumed command of the Submarine Squadron Six, out of Norfolk, VA, and from 1972-74 he commanded Submarine Flotilla Six, which includes several squadrons, with a homeport in Charleston, SC. Whittle then served in the Office of Naval Operations in Washington, after which he became Chief of Staff to the Supreme Allied Commander of the Atlantic from 1976-78.

On 1 August 1978, Whittle was promoted to Admiral and assigned as Chief of Naval Materiel.

Admiral Whittle retired from the Navy in 1981.

In Retirement

Afterward, he joined the board of Sippican Inc. of Marion, MA, a manufacturing company specializing in underwater vehicles for oceanographic and military markets, and took an active part in development. He was also chairman of the Bird Johnson Company of New York, which designs and manufactures marine propulsion systems for military and commercial vessels.

From 1982 until 1985 he was general manager of Lockheed Advanced Marine Systems at Sunnyvale, CA, where he was engaged in research and development. He was subsequently a consultant to the Lockheed Corporation.

Admiral Whittle was founding chairman of the Naval Submarine League in Annandale, Va. in 1982. The league is an educational association that promotes discussion on issues related to submarine warfare.

Death and Burial

Admiral Alfred J. Whittle Jr. died of cancer on 10 August 1993 at his home in Arlington, VA. He was 69.

Survivors include his wife, the former Phyllis King Schneible of Sag Harbor, Long Island, NY; a son Alfred J. Whittle III, Commander, U.S. Navy (Ret.) who lives in Millersville, MD; another son, Jeffrey King of Wayland, MA, and three grandchildren.