Dwaine O. Griffith

Born April 20, 1935, in Shoshone, Idaho, Rear Admiral Griffith graduated from the University of Idaho and was commissioned through the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program in 1957. During his distinguished career in the U.S. Navy's submarine force, Rear Admiral Griffith served on a variety of submarines. He was the first Officer in Charge of Submarine NR-1 and commanded USS CASIMIR PULASKI (SSBN 633), USS SAM RAYBURN (SSBN 635) and USS CANOPUS (AS 34).

While in command of Submarine NR-1, Rear Admiral Griffith was certified as a Deep Submergence Operator, the twenty-seventh naval officer to be so designated. Rear Admiral Griffith served as a Flag Officer on the Staff of the Chief of Naval Operations from April 1985, until his retirement in July 1991. He retained his duties as Director, Deep Submergence Systems Division, as a member of the Senior Executive Service until August 1995.

Rear Admiral Griffith's personal awards include two Distinguished Service Medals, Legion of Merit and four awards of the Meritorious Service Medal.

Rear Admiral Dwaine O. Griffith, U. S. Navy, (Retired), the former Director of the U.S. Navy's Deep Submergence Systems Division and Special Assistant to the Secretary of the Navy for Deep Submergence, passed away on May 23, 1996, at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.