James F. Goodrich

James F. Goodrich
United States Under Secretary of the Navy
In office September 29, 1981 – August 6, 1987
Preceded by	Robert J. Murray
Succeeded by	Henry L. Garrett III
Personal details
Born	(1913-01-24)January 24, 1913 Fennville, Michigan
Died	Falmouth, Maine
Alma mater	University of Michigan
Occupation	diplomat

James F. Goodrich (January 24, 1913 – July 16, 2012) was the United States Under Secretary of the Navy from 1981 to 1987.

Biography

Goodrich was born on January 24, 1913, in Fennville, Michigan and educated in Jackson, Michigan. After high school, he attended the Department of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering at the University of Michigan, receiving his B.S. in 1937. After graduating, he worked on Gulf Oil tankers for two years, and then spent a year as a machinist for Bethlehem Steel in Sparrows Point, Maryland.

Goodrich took a job with Todd Pacific Shipyards in Tacoma, Washington in 1940, and by 1943-45 served as Chief Engineer. In 1945, he was transferred to Seattle, Washington, where he worked as General Superintendent and then as Assistant General Manage. In 1956, he was promoted to General Manager of Todd Shipyards' Los Angeles division.

After 16 years with Todd Pacific Shipyards, in 1964, he left to become executive vice president of Bath Industries, Inc. The next year, Bath Industries changed its name to Congoleum Corp. in 1965 and Goodrich took over as its president and chief executive officer, a position he held until 1975. From 1975 to 1978, Goodrich was chairman of the Board of Directors of Bath Iron Works.

On September 9, 1981, President of the United States Ronald Reagan nominated Goodrich as Under Secretary of the Navy. Goodrich was sworn in as Under Secretary on September 29, 1981 and held this office until August 6, 1987.

References

• Archive of press release announcing Goodrich's appointment as Under Secretary of the Navy
• Article by Goodrich in The Naval Engineers Journal
• Article mentioning Goodrich's activities in 2005
• Obituary in theforecaster.net

Government offices
Preceded by Robert J. Murray	Under Secretary of the Navy September 29, 1981 – August 6, 1987	Succeeded by Henry L. Garrett III