Ronald Jackson Hays (August 19, 1928 – January 11, 2021) was a United States Navy

four star admiral Military star ranking is military terminology, used to describe General officer, general and flag officers. Within Member states of NATO, NATO's armed forces, the stars are equal to Ranks and insignia of NATO, OF-6–10. Star ranking One–star ...

who served as Vice Chief of Naval Operations from 1983 to 1985, and as Commander in Chief, United States Pacific Command from 1985 to 1988.

Early life

Hays was born on August 19, 1928, and raised in

Urania, Louisiana Urania is a town in La Salle Parish, Louisiana, La Salle Parish, Louisiana United States. The population was 1,313 at the 2010 United States Census, 2010 census. Urania was established in the late 1890s by lumbering magnate Henry E. Hardtner, who ...

, a sawmill town that was owned "lock, stock, and barrel" by the Q.T. Hardtner family. In high school, "Happy" Hays worked as the butcher's assistant in the company store. There, Mr. Hardtner took notice and succeeded in gaining a United States Naval Academy congressional appointment for "Happy."

Naval career

Hays graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1950 and served on a destroyer for one year prior to commencing

flight training Flight training is a course of study used when learning to pilot an aircraft. The overall purpose of primary and intermediate flight training is the acquisition and honing of basic airmanship skills. Flight training can be conducted under a str ...

. After a series of operational aviation assignments, including a tour as an experimental test pilot and two combat tours in Vietnam flying the all-weather attack

A-6A Intruder The Grumman A-6 Intruder is an American twinjet all-weather attack aircraft developed and manufactured by American aircraft company Grumman Aerospace and operated by the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps. It was designed in response to a 1957 ...

, he was ordered in 1969 to the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., for duty on the staff of the

Chief of Naval Operations The chief of naval operations (CNO) is the professional head of the United States Navy. The position is a statutory office () held by an admiral who is a military adviser and deputy to the secretary of the Navy. In a separate capacity as a memb ...

. Between 1969 and 1988 Hays' career path was divided between fleet aviation assignments and resource management positions in the Pentagon. During this period significant assignments included: * Commanding Officer, Roosevelt Roads Naval Station, Puerto Rico * Director, Navy Program Planning * Commander, Carrier Group Four * Director, Office of Program Appraisal * Deputy Commander in Chief, Atlantic Forces * Commander in Chief, United States Naval Forces Europe * Vice Chief of Naval Operations * Commander in Chief, United States Pacific Command As Commander in Chief Pacific Forces, Hays commanded all United States military forces in the Pacific theater. He retired from military service in October 1988 and entered the commercial world as a director on several boards, including civic and non-profit organizations. He also served as a consultant for the Parsons Corporation, a global engineering firm. Hays is a graduate of the Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island; Test Pilot School, Patuxent River, Maryland;

Federal Executive Institute The Federal Executive Institute (FEI) is an executive and management development and training center for governmental leaders located on a campus near the center of Charlottesville, Virginia, less than a mile from University of Virginia. FEI of ...

, University of Virginia; and Flight Safety School, University of California. Hays was awarded a Doctorate of Humanities by Northwestern State University, Natchitoches, Louisiana. In 2005, he was honored as a Distinguished Graduate of the United States Naval Academy. He was recognized as a

Distinguished Eagle Scout The Distinguished Eagle Scout Award (DESA) is a distinguished service award of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). It is awarded to an Eagle Scout for distinguished service in his profession and to his community for a period of at least 25 years a ...

. Recognition for Hays' military service includes the

Navy Distinguished Service Medal The Navy Distinguished Service Medal is a military decoration of the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps which was first created in 1919 and is presented to sailors and Marines to recognize distinguished and exceptionally meritoriou ...

(4 awards),

Silver Star The Silver Star Medal (SSM) is the United States Armed Forces' third-highest military decoration for valor in combat. The Silver Star Medal is awarded primarily to members of the United States Armed Forces for gallantry in action against an e ...

(3 awards), Distinguished Flying Cross (7 awards),

Bronze Star Medal The Bronze Star Medal (BSM) is a United States Armed Forces decoration awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces for either heroic achievement, heroic service, meritorious achievement, or meritorious service in a combat zone. Wh ...

with Valor device; Air Medal with

Strike/Flight numerals A Strike/Flight Numeral is a Department of the Navy device that may be awarded for wear on the Air Medal to individuals serving in any capacity in the United States Armed Forces. A Strike/Flight Award is awarded to individuals for meritorious achi ...

, and the Navy Commendation Medal with Valor device. He also received personal awards from the heads of government of Korea, Japan, Thailand, and the Philippines and the Gray Eagle Award. Hays was Chairman of the Board of the development of the

Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum (formerly the Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor) is a non-profit founded in 1999 to develop an aviation museum in Hawaii. Part of Senator Daniel Inouye's vision for a rebirth of Ford Island, the museum hosts a var ...

in historic Pearl Harbor.

Military awards

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hays, Ronald 1928 births 2021 deaths United States Navy admirals United States Naval Academy alumni United States Naval Aviators Recipients of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal Recipients of the Silver Star Recipients of the Legion of Merit Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States) Recipients of the Air Medal Vice Chiefs of Naval Operations People from LaSalle Parish, Louisiana