| Eugene P. Wilkinson | |
|---|---|
Vice Admiral Eugene P. Wilkinson |
|
| Nickname | Dennis |
| Born | 1918 (age 93–94) Long Beach, California |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/branch | United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1940-1974 |
| Rank | Vice Admiral |
| Commands held | USS Nautilus (SSN-571) USS Long Beach (CGN-9) USS Volador (SS-490) USS Sea Robin (SS-407) USS Wahoo (SS-565) Submarine Force U.S. Atlantic Fleet |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Distinguished Service Medal Silver Star Legion of Merit Joint Service Commendation Medal Navy Unit Commendation Order of the Sacred Treasure, 2nd Class (Japan) Navy Meritorious Civilian Service Award Golden Fleece Award Henry DeWolf Smyth Nuclear Statesman Award |
| Relations | Wife, Janice; Daughter, Marian Lynn; Sons, Dennis, Stephen, and Rodney |
| Other work | Institute of Nuclear Power Operations |
Eugene P. "Dennis" Wilkinson (born August 1918) was a United States Naval officer who was selected for three historic command assignments. The first, in 1954, was as the first Commanding Officer of the USS Nautilus, the world's first nuclear submarine. The second was in 1961, where Admiral Rickover selected him to serve as the first Commanding Officer of the USS Long Beach, America's first nuclear surface ship. The third was in 1980 when he was chosen as the first President and CEO of the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO) from which he retired in 1984.
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Wilkinson, born in August 1918 in Long Beach, California, graduated from San Diego State College in 1938 and was commissioned in December 1940. He served aboard the submarine USS Darter (SS-227) during World War II. Wilkinson was awarded the Silver Star for his service aboard the Darter. Prior to commanding Nautilus, he commanded the submarines USS Volador (SS-490), USS Sea Robin (SS-407), and USS Wahoo (SS-565).
During his three-year tour aboard the Nautilus, he presided over pre-commissioning and post-commissioning trials of the submarine. These trials established the capabilities of the nuclear-powered submarine and were used in the development of early nuclear-powered submarine tactics. Nautilus successfully attacked surface ships without being detected and evaded most pursuers.
At 1100 on January 17, 1955, after getting underway, CDR Wilkinson signaled "Underway on Nuclear Power." This historic message ushered in the nuclear age for the United States Navy, as well as the world. CDR Wilkinson was the first commanding officer in a nuclear fleet that would eventually cover most of the aircraft carriers, several cruisers, and the entire submarine fleet for the United States Navy.
Following his tour aboard Nautilus, he commanded the Navy's first nuclear-powered surface ship, USS Long Beach (CGN-9) then became Director, Submarine Warfare Division from 1963 to 1966, Chief of Staff U.S. Forces Japan from 1966 to 1969, and Commander Submarine Flotilla Two from 1969 to 1970.
He retired with the rank of Vice Admiral, having commanded the Submarine Force U.S. Atlantic Fleet from 1970 to 1972 and served as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Submarine Warfare from 1972 to1974.
During his noteworthy naval career, Admiral Wilkinson earned:[1]
After retiring from the navy he received:
Remarks by VADM Eugene P. "Dennis" Wilkinson, USN (ret.) First Commanding Officer of USS NAUTILUS (SSN 571) 50th Anniversary of NAUTILUS' First Underway on Nuclear Power Submarine Force Museum Monday, January 17, 2005
Wilkinson, Eugene P., Stillwell, Paul, (interviewer). The Reminiscences of Vice Admiral Eugen P. Wilkinson U.S. Navy (Retired). Annapolis: U.S. Naval Institute, 2006. OCLC 73501313
Stillwell, Paul, ed. Submarine Stories: Recollections from the Diesel Boats. 2007.
This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Government document "[1]".