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H. Kirk Unruh

Rear Admiral Unruh, a native of Baltimore, Maryland, was commissioned an Ensign in the US Navy in July 1970 upon graduation from Princeton University.

His first tour of duty included initial assignment as Main Propulsion Assistant and Damage Control Assistant, then subsequent assignment as Engineer Officer aboard USS Elkhorn (AOG-7), Service Squadron Five flagship, from 1970 to 1972. Rear Admiral Unruh was selected for the Navy’s Human Resource Management Program in July 1972 and served as Intercultural Relations Department Head and Human Resources Management Specialist at HRMC, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, until August, 1975.

Upon leaving active duty, Rear Admiral Unruh accepted a commission in the Naval Reserve and affiliated with the IRU in Boston, Massachusetts, while he pursed graduate studies at Harvard University. In May 1976 and for five summers thereafter, he was recalled to active duty to teach the Leadership and Management course at the Officer Indoctrination School, NETC Newport, Rhode Island.

From 30 September 1976 until 30 November 1976, Rear Admiral Unruh served as Engineering Department Head of NR CG-10 Albany, N&MCRC West Trenton, New Jersey. On 1 December 1979, he was assigned to NR COMSCLANT DET 202, Bayonne, NJ, and served successively as Assistant Training Officer, Senior Watch Officer, Executive Officer and Assistant Chief of Staff for Mobilization and Readiness. From 1 October 1996 until 30 September 1991, he was SELRES Coordinator/Commanding Officer of NR FFG-7 Oliver Hazard Perry, ALT 702, NRC Staten Island, New York and from 1 October 1991 until 30 September 1993, he was Commanding Officer of Readiness Unit 602, headquartered at NRC Poughkeepsie, NY.

From 1 October 1993 until 30 September 1995, he served as Commanding Officer of NR Combat Logistics Group Two DET 204, N&MCRC Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania, and from 1 October 1995 to 30 September 1996, he served as a Navy Department Duty Captain at the Pentagon, assigned to NR Navy Command Center DET 106. In August 1995 he was selected by the Chief of Naval Reserve to serve as the Surface Warfare community’s representative and an instructor at the Navy Command Leadership School, Newport, RI, where he taught regularly until 30 September 1999. From 1 October 1996 until 30 September 1999, Rear Admiral Unruh served as the Deputy for Readiness and Mission Effectiveness on the staff of Commander, Naval Reserve Readiness Command Region Four, Ft. Dix, NJ.

From 1 October 1999 until 30 September 2001, Rear Adm. Unruh served as Deputy Commander, U.S. Maritime Defense Zone Atlantic. On 1 October 2001, he assumed duties as Deputy Commander, Naval Surface Force, US Atlantic Fleet. On 16 December 2001 he assumed additional duties as Commander, Naval Reserve Readiness Command Midwest.

Rear Admiral Unruh is a graduate of the Navy Command Leadership School, The National Defense University Reserve Components National Security Course, The Naval Reserved Management Course, the CINCLANTFLT Senior Naval Reserve Officer Orientation Course, and the US Army War College Senior Reserve Component Officer Course. He is authorized to wear the Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), the Navy Commendation Medal (four awards), the National Defense Medal with Bronze star, The Republic of Vietnam Service Medal with bronze star, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with hourglass, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, as well as various other Unit and Service ribbons.

Rear Admiral Unruh is Director of Development Relations at Princeton University and serves as a trustee or director of several charitable and non-profit organizations. He holds Master’s Degrees from Harvard University (Education) and the University of Hawaii (American Studies). He is a Life Member of the Naval Reserve Association and the Surface Navy Association and a Member of the Reserve Officers Association and the US Naval Institute.

Updated: 28 December 2001 - http://www.chinfo.navy.mil/navpalib/people/flags/biographies/unruhkh.html

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Published: Wed Dec 23 12:32:30 EST 2015