Verne Orr
Encyclopedia
Verne Orr was the 14th Secretary of the Air Force, appointed by President
Ronald Reagan
. From California, he was a businessman and educator who served in both state and national government positions.
. He grew up in the Midwest, then moved with his family to California
just prior to entering high school.
He graduated from Pomona College
in 1937 where he was awarded a Phi Beta Kappa key. He earned a master's degree in business administration from Stanford University
in 1939.
Orr served in the United States Navy
during World War II
. In April 1942, he was called to active duty in the Navy Supply Corps. During the course of the war, Orr served in both the American and Pacific theaters of operations. He reached the rank of lieutenant prior to being released from active duty in November 1945. Orr continued to serve in the Navy Reserve
until 1951 when he was honorably discharged as a lieutenant commander
.
, eventually became a partner in the business. Orr was active in the auto dealership from 1946 until 1962. However, Orr began shifted his interests into his family’s investment business around 1960. In 1963, he became president of Investors Savings and Loan of Pasadena, serving in that position until 1966.
In 1966, California’s governor, Ronald Reagan, selected Orr to be the director of the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles
. He held that position until 1969. He then served briefly as the state's director of General Services before becoming California's Director of Finance in 1970, a position he held until 1975.
From 1975 to 1980, Orr taught government finance at the University of Southern California
’s graduate school of public administration from 1975 until 1980. In 1977, California Governor Jerry Brown
named him to the University of California’s Board of Regents
.
In 1980, Orr served on Ronald Reagan’s Presidential campaign committee. After Reagan was elected President, Orr became deputy director the President-elect’s transition office. President Reagan appointed him Secretary of the Air Force in 1981.
As the Air Force Secretary, Orr worked well with Air Force Chief of Staff Charles A. Gabriel
. Together they secured major budget increases for the United States Air Force
, taking care of Air Force personnel and modernizing the Services's force structure. Orr served for five years, leaving the Air Force in 1985.
After his Air Force service, Orr returned to Pasadena where he became a partner in Smith Orr & Associates, a planning and management consulting firm. In 1999, Orr accepted the position of dean at the University of La Verne
’s School of Business and International Studies. He served as dean the university until June 2002 when he retired as dean emeritus.
In 2005, after working on his dissertation for 14 years, Orr was award a doctor of philosophy
degree in politics and public policy from Claremont Graduate University
. At the time, he was 88 years old. His doctoral dissertation was on the development of the B-1 bomber, a system he helped to procure as Secretary of the Air Force.
Orr has had a long and distinguished career in business, government and education including numerous awards. Orr was honored as Pasadena’s Man of the Year in 1970. He has also been Pasadena’s Salvation Army
Man of the Year, and received Pasadena’s Patriot Award. He has served as president of the Pasadena Merchants Association, president of the United Way of Los Angeles County, president of the Kiwanis Club of Pasadena, and president of the Family's Services Association of Pasadena. He is director emeritus of Huntington Memorial Hospital
in Pasadena.
At the state level, Orr was a University of California Regent and a Trustee of Scripps College
in Claremont, California
. He is also a member of the Advisory Council for the Florida A&M University
-Florida State University
, College of Engineering.
Orr’s personal awards includes Department of Defense Distinguished Public Service Medal
, United States Army Distinguished Civilian Service Medal, United States Navy Distinguished Public Service Medal, United States Air Force Exceptional Civilian Service Medal
, and the Purple Heart
.
The University of La Verne has establishment of the Verne Orr Endowed Scholarship Fund. The fund honors Orr's legacy of leadership and service by awarding an annual scholarship to a qualified and deserving student in the university's School of Business and Global Studies.
Each year the United States Air Force Association
present the Verne Orr Award. This award recognizes a United States Air Force unit for making the most effective use of its human resources.
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
. From California, he was a businessman and educator who served in both state and national government positions.
Early life
Verne Orr was born on November 12, 1916 in Des Moines, IowaDes Moines, Iowa
Des Moines is the capital and the most populous city in the US state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small portion of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines which was shortened to "Des Moines" in 1857...
. He grew up in the Midwest, then moved with his family to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
just prior to entering high school.
He graduated from Pomona College
Pomona College
Pomona College is a private, residential, liberal arts college in Claremont, California. Founded in 1887 in Pomona, California by a group of Congregationalists, the college moved to Claremont in 1889 to the site of a hotel, retaining its name. The school enrolls 1,548 students.The founding member...
in 1937 where he was awarded a Phi Beta Kappa key. He earned a master's degree in business administration from Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
in 1939.
Orr served in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. In April 1942, he was called to active duty in the Navy Supply Corps. During the course of the war, Orr served in both the American and Pacific theaters of operations. He reached the rank of lieutenant prior to being released from active duty in November 1945. Orr continued to serve in the Navy Reserve
United States Navy Reserve
The United States Navy Reserve, until 2005 known as the United States Naval Reserve, is the Reserve Component of the United States Navy...
until 1951 when he was honorably discharged as a lieutenant commander
Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander...
.
Business and public service
Following his release from active duty, Orr began working at his father's new car dealership in Pasadena, CaliforniaPasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
, eventually became a partner in the business. Orr was active in the auto dealership from 1946 until 1962. However, Orr began shifted his interests into his family’s investment business around 1960. In 1963, he became president of Investors Savings and Loan of Pasadena, serving in that position until 1966.
In 1966, California’s governor, Ronald Reagan, selected Orr to be the director of the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles
Department of Motor Vehicles
In the United States of America, a Department of Motor Vehicles is a state-level government agency that administers vehicle registration and driver licensing. Similar departments exist in Canada...
. He held that position until 1969. He then served briefly as the state's director of General Services before becoming California's Director of Finance in 1970, a position he held until 1975.
From 1975 to 1980, Orr taught government finance at the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
’s graduate school of public administration from 1975 until 1980. In 1977, California Governor Jerry Brown
Jerry Brown
Edmund Gerald "Jerry" Brown, Jr. is an American politician. Brown served as the 34th Governor of California , and is currently serving as the 39th California Governor...
named him to the University of California’s Board of Regents
Regents of the University of California
The Regents of the University of California make up the governing board of the University of California. The Board has 26 full members:* The majority are appointed by the Governor of California for 12-year terms....
.
In 1980, Orr served on Ronald Reagan’s Presidential campaign committee. After Reagan was elected President, Orr became deputy director the President-elect’s transition office. President Reagan appointed him Secretary of the Air Force in 1981.
As the Air Force Secretary, Orr worked well with Air Force Chief of Staff Charles A. Gabriel
Charles A. Gabriel
General Charles Alvin Gabriel was the 11th Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force. As chief of staff of the U. S. Air Force, General Gabriel served in a dual capacity...
. Together they secured major budget increases for the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
, taking care of Air Force personnel and modernizing the Services's force structure. Orr served for five years, leaving the Air Force in 1985.
After his Air Force service, Orr returned to Pasadena where he became a partner in Smith Orr & Associates, a planning and management consulting firm. In 1999, Orr accepted the position of dean at the University of La Verne
University of La Verne
The University of La Verne is a private research university located in La Verne, California . Founded in 1891, the university is composed of the College of Arts & Sciences, College of Business & Public Management, College of Education and Organizational Leadership, College of Law, and a Regional...
’s School of Business and International Studies. He served as dean the university until June 2002 when he retired as dean emeritus.
In 2005, after working on his dissertation for 14 years, Orr was award a doctor of philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
degree in politics and public policy from Claremont Graduate University
Claremont Graduate University
Claremont Graduate University is a private, all-graduate research university located in Claremont, California, a city east of downtown Los Angeles...
. At the time, he was 88 years old. His doctoral dissertation was on the development of the B-1 bomber, a system he helped to procure as Secretary of the Air Force.
Legacy
Orr died on November 27, 2008, at age 92, at his home in Pasadena, California.Orr has had a long and distinguished career in business, government and education including numerous awards. Orr was honored as Pasadena’s Man of the Year in 1970. He has also been Pasadena’s Salvation Army
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
Man of the Year, and received Pasadena’s Patriot Award. He has served as president of the Pasadena Merchants Association, president of the United Way of Los Angeles County, president of the Kiwanis Club of Pasadena, and president of the Family's Services Association of Pasadena. He is director emeritus of Huntington Memorial Hospital
Huntington Memorial Hospital
Huntington Hospital is a 635-bed not-for-profit hospital in Pasadena, California. It is named for Southern California businessman and booster Henry E...
in Pasadena.
At the state level, Orr was a University of California Regent and a Trustee of Scripps College
Scripps College
Scripps College is a progressive liberal arts women's college in Claremont, California, United States. It is a member of the Claremont Colleges. Scripps ranks 3rd for the nation's best women's college, ahead of Barnard College, Mount Holyoke College, and Bryn Mawr College at 23rd on the list for...
in Claremont, California
Claremont, California
Claremont is a small affluent college town in eastern Los Angeles County, California, United States, about east of downtown Los Angeles at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains. The population as of the 2010 census is 34,926. Claremont is known for its seven higher-education institutions, its...
. He is also a member of the Advisory Council for the Florida A&M University
Florida A&M University
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, commonly known as Florida A&M or FAMU, is a historically black university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States, the state capital, and is one of eleven member institutions of the State University System of Florida...
-Florida State University
Florida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
, College of Engineering.
Orr’s personal awards includes Department of Defense Distinguished Public Service Medal
Department of Defense Distinguished Civilian Service Award
The Department of Defense Distinguished Civilian Service Award is the highest civilian award given by the United States Department of Defense. This award and accompanying Distinguished Civilian Service Medal is the Department's highest award given to career DoD civilian employees whose careers...
, United States Army Distinguished Civilian Service Medal, United States Navy Distinguished Public Service Medal, United States Air Force Exceptional Civilian Service Medal
Decoration for Exceptional Civilian Service
The Department of the Air Force Decoration for Exceptional Civilian Service is the highest award granted by the United States Secretary of the Air Force to civilian personnel. It consists of a medal, lapel button, and citation certificate...
, and the Purple Heart
Purple Heart
The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...
.
The University of La Verne has establishment of the Verne Orr Endowed Scholarship Fund. The fund honors Orr's legacy of leadership and service by awarding an annual scholarship to a qualified and deserving student in the university's School of Business and Global Studies.
Each year the United States Air Force Association
Air Force Association
The Air Force Association is an independent, 501 non-profit, civilian education organization, headquartered in Arlington, Virginia...
present the Verne Orr Award. This award recognizes a United States Air Force unit for making the most effective use of its human resources.