Kent Lee

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Kent L. Lee
born July 28, 1923
Capt Kent Lee (left standing) taking command of the USS Enterprise
Allegiance	United States Navy
Rank	Vice Admiral
Commands	USS Enterprise (CVN-65) Naval Air Systems Command
Battles/wars	World War II Vietnam War

Kent L. Lee (born July 28, 1923) is a retired Vice Admiral of the United States Navy. The 34-year veteran of the Navy saw combat in World War II and commanded USS Enterprise (CVN-65) during the Vietnam War. He is best known for his work in driving the development and procurement of the F/A-18 Hornet.

Lee was born to R. Irby and Hettie (Floyd) Lee in Florence County, South Carolina. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy on August 15, 1940. In 1942, he entered the flight training program, and was designated naval aviator and commissioned ensign on August 7, 1943. He served with Bombing Squadron 15 and Fighting Squadron 15 on the USS Essex (CV-9). With Fighting Squadron 15, he shot down one Japanese plane.^[1]

After the war, the Navy sent him to Columbia University, where he earned bachelor's degrees in mathematics and physics. He went on to earn a Ph.D. in nuclear engineering. His command assignments included Attack Squadron 46, Carrier Air Wing 6, USS Alamo (LSD-33), and USS Enterprise (CVN-65); the latter during the Vietnam War.^[2]

His staff command posts included director of the Office of Program Appraisal, deputy director of the Joint Strategic Target Planning Staff, and commander, Naval Air Systems Command. There he was instrumental in the development and acquisition of the F/A-18 Hornet fighter aircraft. Lee retired from that billet on October 31, 1976.^[1] He now lives in Charlottesville, Virginia and is a grandfather of nine.

[edit] References

^ ^a ^b Kelly, Orr (1990). Hornet: the inside story of the F/A-18. Novato: Presido Press. ISBN 0-89141-344-8.
^ Lee, Kent; Capt. E.T. Wooldridge, U.S. Navy, editor (1995). Into the Jet Age: Conflict and change in Naval Aviation, 1945-1970. Naval Institute Press.