Former U.S. Pacific Fleet Commander Admiral Archie Ray Clemins Dies
Retired U.S. Navy Adm. Archie Ray Clemins, the recipient of AFCEA’s 1998 David Sarnoff Award, died on March 14, at home in Boise, Idaho. He was instrumental in the creation and implementation of the Navy Marine Corps Intranet and former commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet.
Adm. Clemins received both his bachelor of science and master of science degrees in electrical engineering from the University of Illinois. Commissioned into the U.S. Navy through the Naval Reserve Officer Training Program, he completed the Naval Nuclear Power Program and served on both ballistic missile and attack submarines before tours as the executive officer on the USS Parche and commanding officer of the USS Pogy.
Known as a visionary leader, Adm. Clemins championed change management and information technology. He has been recognized as the father of “high-tech” in the U.S. Navy and the man who led the Navy into the information age. The four-star admiral retired from the Navy in December 1999 after 34 years of active duty service.
He was the recipient of several military honors, including two Presidential Unit citations, three Distinguished Service Medals, seven Legion of Merits, the Meritorious Service medal, and awards from the governments of Japan and Korea. Civilian recognitions include AFCEA’s David Sarnoff Award and the Naval Order of the United States-Distinguished Sea Service Award. In 2006, he was selected as a member of the National Academy of Engineering.
He is survived by his wife, Marilyn; daughter, Becky (Dan) Lewis of San Diego; son, Travis (Urszula) Clemins of Boulder, Colo.; and four grandchildren, Nathan Lewis, Olivia Lewis, Thomas Clemins and Theodore Clemins. Interment with full military honors will be in Arlington National Cemetery, preceded by a funeral service at the base chapel. The dates and times of all arrangements are pending.
