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John Lehman

From Alfawiki
John Lehman
Born
John Francis Lehman Jr.

(1942-09-14) September 14, 1942 (age 84)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Occupation(s)Investor, author, former government official
Known forUnited States Secretary of the Navy (1981–1987)
Notable workOn Seas of Glory; Making War; America the Vulnerable; Oceans Ventured; The Executive, Congress, and Foreign Policy; Command of the Seas

John Francis Lehman Jr. (born September 14, 1942) is an American investor specializing in private equity and an author, who held the position of United States Secretary of the Navy from 1981 to 1987 during the Reagan administration. During his tenure, he was a key proponent of expanding the naval fleet to a 600-ship force.

Lehman is a trustee of the Foreign Policy Research Institute (FPRI). Between 2003 and 2004, he participated as a member of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (commonly known as the 9/11 Commission) and supported policy proposals advanced by the Project for the New American Century. Additionally, he provided counsel to Senators John McCain in the 2008 presidential race and Mitt Romney during the 2012 campaign.

Early life

Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Lehman is the son of Constance (Cruice) and John Francis Lehman, an industrial engineer and decorated US Navy officer with the rank of Lieutenant Commander. He completed his secondary education at La Salle College High School and obtained a B.S. degree in international relations from Saint Joseph's University in 1964. He further earned a B.A. from Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, later elevated to an M.A., followed by both an M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania.

Lehman is related as a first cousin once removed to Grace Kelly (Princess Grace of Monaco) and serves as chairman of the Princess Grace Foundation-USA, which supports emerging talents in film, dance, and theater arts. He led the American delegation at Prince Rainier's funeral. His residences include locations in Bucks County, Pennsylvania and Manhattan, and he has been affiliated with the Republican Party for many years.

Military career

Lehman initially served three years in the U.S. Air Force Reserve while in Cambridge before commissioning as an ensign in the United States Naval Reserve in 1968. He advanced to the rank of commander as a naval flight officer aboard the A-6 Intruder, functioning as a bombardier/navigator. In addition, he held a position on the staff of the National Security Council during Henry Kissinger’s tenure.

In 1977, Lehman established Abington Corporation, a consulting firm catering to defense industry clients such as Northrop Corporation. He remained its president until his appointment by President Ronald Reagan as Secretary of the Navy in 1981.

Secretary of the Navy (1981–1987)

Appointed as the 65th Secretary of the Navy at age 38 under Reagan’s administration in 1981, Lehman was among the youngest individuals to hold this office while maintaining active status as a Naval Reserve commander and aviator. He formulated what became known as the "Lehman Doctrine," a strategic concept aimed at countering Soviet power in Europe by targeting their Far Eastern territories through Pacific operations, focusing on critical infrastructure such as the Trans-Siberian Railway.

A vigorous supporter of aircraft carrier capabilities, Lehman’s advocacy during the 1970s laid groundwork for revitalizing U.S. naval aviation under Reagan’s leadership. His endorsement of both a 600-ship navy and the U.S. Maritime Strategy included reactivating four Iowa-class battleships, underscoring American naval dominance relative to Soviet forces.

Lehman encountered opposition from Deputy Secretary of Defense W. Paul Thayer regarding proposed reductions in future aircraft carrier construction but ultimately secured backing from the White House, reinforcing Reagan’s commitment to naval expansion. He also influenced the retirement of Admiral Hyman G. Rickover, who directed Naval Reactors.

In a contentious decision, Lehman sided with General Dynamics following revelations that submarine inspection records were falsified; he supported a settlement exceeding $600 million despite widespread criticism concerning quality control issues.

His period in office was overshadowed by allegations linked to misconduct at the 1986 Tailhook Convention, including claims involving explicit behavior witnessed by numerous attendees. Although not explicitly named in official inquiries, these events attracted considerable media scrutiny. Lehman later minimized their seriousness during public questioning.

Lehman stepped down as Secretary of the Navy in 1987, received promotion to captain within the Naval Reserve in 1989, and concluded his military service after three decades. In recognition of his contributions, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer bearing his name, USS John F. Lehman, was announced by the U.S. Navy in 2020 and is currently being built.

Later career

Lehman, who previously worked as an investment banker at UBS AG and Paine Webber, also held the position of president at Abington Corporation. By 2020, he was serving as chairman of the private equity firm J. F. Lehman and Company as well as chairman of Hawaii Superferry. He chairs the board of OAO Technology Solutions Inc. and is an honorary member of the First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry. By 2005, his affiliations extended to several conservative policy organizations, including the Project for the New American Century, The Heritage Foundation, the Foreign Policy Research Institute, the Center for Security Policy, and the Committee on the Present Danger.

After his participation on the 9/11 Commission in 2002, Lehman was considered for several high-profile security roles within the Bush administration, such as Director of Central Intelligence, Director of National Intelligence, and Secretary of Defense following Donald Rumsfeld’s resignation. During the 2008 presidential campaign, he was also viewed as a possible Secretary of Defense nominee under a potential John McCain presidency.

As of August 2016, Lehman holds the chairmanship of the Princess Grace Foundation-USA and serves as a director for the OpSail Foundation. He is a member of the board of overseers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Engineering and a trustee at La Salle College High School. Since 1987, he has been a director at Ball Corporation and acts as an advisor to the Partnership for a Secure America, an organization advocating bipartisan approaches to national security.

On June 26, 2012, Lehman revealed that during the Reagan administration, there was a covert offer to provide the amphibious assault helicopter carrier USS Iwo Jima as a replacement for either HMS Hermes or HMS Invincible if either British carrier sustained damage during the 1982 Falklands conflict. This disclosure attracted notable attention in the United Kingdom but received limited reporting within the United States aside from coverage by the US Naval Institute.

Books

  • On Seas of Glory: Heroic Men, Great Ships, and Epic Battles of the American Navy (2002)
  • Making War: The 200-Year-Old Battle Between the President and Congress Over How America Goes to War (Naval Institute Press, 2001)
  • America the Vulnerable: Our Military Problems and How to Fix Them (1992)
  • Oceans Ventured: Winning the Cold War at Sea (W. W. Norton, 2018)
  • The Executive, Congress, and Foreign Policy: Studies of the Nixon Administration (Praeger, 1974)
  • Command of the Seas: Building the 600 Ship Navy (Naval Institute Press, 2001)

Critical studies and reviews of Lehman's work

Oceans Ventured
  • Zakheim, Dov S., "Lehman's maritime triumph," Naval War College Review, vol. 71, no. 4, Autumn 2018, pp. 141–146

External links

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