Verne Orr

George Vernon Orr Jr. (November 12, 1916 – November 27, 2008) 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.

Early life Verne Orr was born on November 12, 1916, in Des Moines, Iowa. 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.

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.

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.