Frederick H. Michaelis

Michaelis was born on March 4, 1917, in Kansas City, Missouri.[1] He married Rose Schiche of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, with whom he had three children. Michaelis died on August 13, 1992, in Washington, D.C., and is buried with his wife at Arlington National Cemetery.

Michaelis graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1940 as an ensign and was assigned to the USS Pennsylvania. After surviving the attack on Pearl Harbor, he became a Naval Aviator. Later in World War II, he was assigned to what would become Attack Squadron 12, which he eventually commanded in 1945. Following the war, he was involved in the development of nuclear weapons and was assigned to the USS Hornet. Later, he served on the staff of the Commander, Naval Air Forces (1955–1956), and with the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (AIR) (1956–1957). He was Executive Officer of the USS Randolph (1957–1959), before being given the command of the USS Tolovana in 1959. Following this, he worked with the Chief of Naval Operations (1959–1960) and became the second Commanding Officer of the USS Enterprise, the world's first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier (1963–1965), during the Vietnam War. He was promoted to rear admiral in 1965 and vice admiral in 1969. Later he served as Commander, Naval Air Force U.S. Atlantic Fleet (1972–1975), and Chief of the Office of Naval Material (1975–1978), being promoted to four-star admiral in 1975. He retired in 1978.[1][2]

Awards he received include the Navy Cross.

• List of United States Navy four-star admirals
• List of USS Enterprise (CVN-65) commanding officers