Tom Connelly

Tom Connolly began his education at UCLA but in 1929 received an appointment to the United States Naval Academy It was while he was a midshipman that he won the 1932 bronze medal. He would later receive a master’s degree from MIT. Connolly went on to become a test pilot for the navy and during the war he commanded Patrol Squadron 13 for which he was awarded the DFC and Air Medals, both with two Gold Stars. He eventually rose to the rank of vice admiral and, for a short time in the 60s, was commander of the Pacific Fleet. Connolly retired from the navy in 1971 and later did consulting work on national defense matters with industry