Naval History and Heritage Command

Finding aid (Word)

Biographical Note

A native of Boston, Roberta Hazard graduated magna cum laude from Boston College with majors in history and education. She also received a master's degree in history from Boston College. Prior to entering the Navy in 1960, she taught history at the senior high school level.

Hazard attended Officer Candidate School and was commissioned an Ensign in December 1960. She was assigned as division officer and researcher-writer within the Naval History Division, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. She served in that capacity until December 1962, receiving a promotion to Lieutenant (jg) in June of that year. Hazard next reported as the education, training, and leadership officer at Jacksonville Naval Air Station in Florida.

Leaving Jacksonville in January 1965, she joined the Woman Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island as an instructor and academic department head. Promoted to Lieutenant that July, Hazard remained in Newport until November 1967, when she departed for a two-year tour as Protocol Officer in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. In November 1969, she reported to the U.S. Naval Academy as manager of a computer-assisted instruction project. Advanced to the rank of Lieutenant Commander in August 1970, her service at the Academy continued until January 1971.

From 1971 to 1974, she again served in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, first as Special Assistant and Secretary. She became Special Project/Action Officer within the Middle East, African Section, Politico-Military Affairs Division (OP-61) in August 1973 and Assistant Secretary for Joint Chiefs of Staff Matters (OP-004) as of November 1973. For the final six months of her tour, from June to December 1974, Hazard was Special Assistant to the Former Chief of Naval Operations.

She was next assigned as special assistant to the Commander in Chief, Allied Forces Southern Europe in Naples, Italy, serving as speech writer and political-miltary advisor. Promoted to Commander in July 1976, she graduated from the National War College two years later and was assigned to the Military Personnel and Training Division, Bureau of Personnel as head of the women's program section.

Beginning in 1980, she held three successive command tours. The first was Naval Technical Training Center, Treasure Island, California. While in that assignment, Hazard was advanced to the rank of Captain. Her next assignment, from December 1982 until July 1985, was commanding officer of Naval Administrative Command, at San Diego Naval Training Center. Following selection to flag rank in December 1984, she commanded the Navy's largest training facility, Great Lakes Naval Training Center in Illinois, from July 1985 through August 1987.

Hazard became the Director for Manpower and Personnel, Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in August 1987. She was selected for promotion to Rear Admiral (upper half) on 18 May 1988, the first woman to be board selected for that grade. Her final tour, as Assistant Chief of Naval Personnel, Personal readiness and Community Support, extended from August 1989 through September 1992. In 1990 and 1991 she also chaired the NATO Committee on Women in the Armed Forces.

Scope and Content Note

The Papers of Rear Admiral Roberta Hazard consist largely of subject files collected by the Admiral on various aspects of her work in training, management, personnel, and the service of women in the Navy. A smaller number of working files, such as her notes and files relating to her service on the NATO Committee on Women in the Armed Forces are present as well. These files often hold correspondence, memoranda, planning documents, and transcripts of presentations and speeches given by Hazard and other participants.

The collection is arranged in three series. Series I, Women in the U.S. Navy, consists of subject files holding background material; Navy documents, reports, and studies; and some of Hazard's notes and speech materials. It is arranged alphabetically.

Series II, NATO, is made up mostly of planning and meeting material from the Committee on Women in NATO Forces. A smaller number of NATO publications and studies on the status of women in NATO countries and their armed services is also included. This series is arranged alphabetically.

In the third series, Management and Training, are briefing documents and background material on subjects such as core values, ethics, sexual harassment, strategic planning, and total quality leadership. These files are arranged alphabetically.

Series IV contains photographs of Hazard. The three photographs in this series show Hazard, then a Lieutenant, in dinner dress uniform. They were taken at the U.S. Naval Academy in 1970 as part of a recruiting photograph effort.

Series V, Video, holds videocassettes relating to Admiral Hazard’s Navy career. They are chiefly VHS format, with a smaller number of Betamax and U-matic ¾-inch cassettes. This series is arranged alphabetically by title.

Preferred Citation

This collection should be cited as Papers of Roberta L. Hazard, Archives Branch, Naval History and Heritage Command, Washington, D.C.

Subject Headings (LCSH)

United States. Navy--Women.
Women Soldiers.
North Atlantic Treaty Organization--Women.
United States. Navy--Management.
Total Quality Management.
Values.
United States. Navy--History--20th century--Sources.