Robert J. Hanks

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Person.png Robert J. HanksRdf-entity.pngRdf-icon.png
(mariner, journalist)
Robert j hanks.png
Born1924
DiedJuly 8, 2001 (Age 77)
Alma materU. S. Naval Academy, Naval War College
Member ofLe Cercle
Cercle regular, rear admiral,Cold War hardliner

Robert J. Hanks was a US Navy officer who was a regular at Le Cercle until at least 1985.

Career

Commissioned ensign US Navy, 1945, advanced through grades to rear admiral, 1972; service at sea Pacific and Persian Gulf, Bahrain, also Indian Ocean area; Commander Middle East Force, 1972-75; director security assistance division Navy Department, 1975-76, director strategic plans and policy div., 1976-77; retired, 1977; freelance writer, consultant, from 1977. Member U.S. Naval Institute (life, Silver medal essay contest 1968, 80, Bronze medal 1969, Gold medal 1970, 79). Republican.[1]

He flew planes in the Pacific during the Korean War, commanded the destroyer USS Boyd and commanded a destroyer squadron in the Pacific during the Vietnam War[2]. In 1966, he served first as Assistant for NATO Affairs, and then as Deputy Director for Nuclear Planning Affairs in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (International Security Affairs).[3]

His writings stressed the importance of controlling the mineral rich Southern Africa, by making sure the South Africa apartheid government did not fall.

Publications

Numerous articles, books on strategic and international political military affairs and maritime history, including:[1]

  • 1972 - America Spreads Her Sails (contributing author)
  • 1980 - The Unnoticed Challenge: Soviet Maritime Strategy and the Global Choke Points,
  • 1981 - Sea Power and Strategy in the Indian Ocean
  • 1981 - The Cape Route: Imperiled Western Lifeline
  • 1981 - The Pacific Far East: Endangered American Strategic Position,
  • 1982 - The U.S. Military Presence in the Middle East: Problems and Prospects
  • 1985 - American Sea Power and Global Strategy

Later activities

After he retired, he was a freelance writer, lecturer and consultant specializing in the Middle East. He wrote for a variety of corporate media publications, including U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings, The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, Wall Street Journal, Strategic Review, Naval Review and Shipmate.[4] He was president of the Army and Navy Club from 1990-1991 and a member of the American Legion, Navy League and the U.S. Naval Institute.

Deep political connections

He was a regular at Le Cercle until at least 1985.[1]

 

Events Participated in

EventStartEndLocation(s)Description
Le Cercle/1982 (Wildbad Kreuth)11 June 198213 June 1982Germany
Hanns Seidel Foundation
Le Cercle/1983 (Bonn)30 June 19833 July 1983Germany
Bonn
Le Cercle/1984 (Bonn)5 July 19847 July 1984Germany
Bonn
Held in Bonn, West Germany, the list of the 36 visitors was published online in 2011.
Le Cercle/1984 (Capetown)12 January 198415 January 1984South Africa
Stellenbosch
Capetown
4 day meeting of Le Cercle in Capetown exposed after Joel Van der Reijden discovered the attendee list for this conference and published it online in 2011
Le Cercle/1985 (Washington)7 January 198510 January 1985US
Washington DC
4 day meeting of Le Cercle in Washington exposed after Joel Van der Reijden discovered the attendee list for this conference and published it online in 2011
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References