USS Thresher

Arlington National Cemetery

Memorial Project

Rear Admiral John Clarke Orzalli, USN (Retired) Treasurer, USS Thresher ANC Memorial Foundation

 

﷯Rear Admiral (retired) is the son of a retired Navy captain moved many times while growing up. He attended Frisbee School and Traip Academy in Kittery while his father was stationed on USS Sam Rayburn (SSBN – 635) undergoing overhaul at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. He graduated with distinction from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1978. At sea, he served aboard USS Snook (SSN 592) as an engineering division and weapons officer; and as USS Helena’s (SSN 725) engineering officer during new construction. Ashore, he served at the U.S. Naval Academy as the 29th Company Officer, and as the Officer in Charge of Submarine Development Group One Detachment Mare island before transfer to the Engineering Duty Officer Community. He then served in the Ocean Engineering and Production Departments at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and as the Nuclear Production Manager and Engineering and Planning Officer at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. Following a tour in the Fleet Readiness Division OPNAV (N431), Orzalli relieved as the 45th shipyard commander at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard from 2002 - 2005. During his command tour, he assumed additional duties in establishing the Northwest Regional Maintenance Center. Following selection to flag rank, Orzalli was the deputy director, Fleet Readiness Division, OPNAV (N43B); commanding officer, Mid-Atlantic Regional Maintenance Center, then established commander, Regional Maintenance Centers. He was then the director of Fleet Maintenance on the staff of commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command prior to becoming the Vice Commander of the Naval Sea Systems Command. In this role, he served as the Chairman of the SUBSAFE oversight committee. His service decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit (with four stars), the Meritorious Service Medal (with two stars), Navy Commendation Medal (with star), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (with three stars) and various other unit and operational awards. Orzalli holds a Bachelor of Science in Marine Engineering degree from the U.S. Naval Academy, Naval Engineer and Masters of Materials Science and Engineering degrees from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and a Master of Science in Systems Management from Golden Gate University. Since retirement RADM Orzalli continues to work on reduction of Total Ownership Cost and improvement of efficiency in government through application of new IT tools with DS Government Solutions. He served two terms on the Council of the American Society of Naval Engineers, and now is the president of the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) New England Chapter. He serves on the BODs of the National Center for Manufacturing Sciences and the Caleb Group (providing low cost housing across New England). He is also the Massachusetts Commissioner to the Military Children’s Compact Commission working to break down educational barriers children of military see when transferring schools. He is the senior vice commander and past commander of Nahant American Legion Post 215 and has been working on a veterans hiring initiative for the Massachusetts High Technology Council. He and his wife Dale reside in Nahant MA.

 

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