Robert Lee Dennison

Admiral, U.S. Navy

Robert Lee Dennison was born on 13 April 1901 in Warren, PA, and graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1923. He later received a Doctorate in Engineering from Johns Hopkins University.

He held numerous commands in the U.S. Navy, including submarines, destroyers, and the battleship USS Missouri. President Harry S. Truman twice sailed on the Missouri while Dennison was in command.

As a Rear Admiral, he served as Naval Aide to President Truman from 1948-53. While serving as Aide, Dennison, along with others, won Truman's support for Dennison's classmate, Arleigh Burke, later Chief of Naval Operations, whose views at the time had nearly ruined his career.

Dennison was promoted to the four-star rank of Admiral on 1 Feb 1959 and then served as Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet (CINCLANTFLT) and U.S. Atlantic Command (CINCLANT) from 28 February 1960 to 30 April 1963. While in charge of the Atlantic forces, he was given the duty of blockading Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Death and Burial

Admiral Robert Lee Dennison died on 14 March 1980. His place of burial is unknown.