Owens, Robert L.
Dates
- Existence: June 3, 1924 - April 8, 2017
Biography
Robert L. Owens, from Sanger, California, served aboard the submarine USS Growler (SSG-577), first as executive officer, then as commanding officer, from February 1960 to December 13, 1963. Owens began his submarine service during WWII aboard the USS Tinosa. After the war, he pursued his education, and then returned to the Navy, this time in the reserves. Owens became involved in the Regulus Program, switched from the reserves to regular Navy, and eventually joined Growler. After decommissioning Growler at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Owens continued his naval career, returning to COMSUBPAC Staff as the Polaris Targeting Officer, commanding the fast attack boat Sea Leopard, and joining CINCLANT as part of the team that would send the go-message to the Polaris boats. He was then the Assistant Chief of Staff for Plans and Operations for SubFlot 6, received orders to the Pentagon for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, where he was the Submarine Officer attached to the Chairman’s SALT negotiation team, and ended his 28 years in the submarine service as the 688 Project Officer. After his career in the submarine service, Robert Owens returned to Sanger, California, where he ran his family’s plumbing business.
Chronology:
- 1943
- Start of Military Service (WWII)
- 1946
- End of Military Service (WWII)
- 1952
- Start of Military Service
- February 1960
- Start of Service Aboard Growler
- December 13, 1963
- End of Service Aboard Growler
- 1975
- End of Military Service
Found in 3 Collections and/or Records:
James W. Day Oral History
Robert L. Owens Oral History (Second Interview)
Filtered By
- Subject: Communications Technicians, CTs X
Additional filters:
- Subject
- Discipline 2
- Education -- Training -- Military Training -- Naval Training -- Submarine Training -- Qualifying 2
- Engines -- Heat Engines -- Internal Combustion Engines -- Compression Ignition Engines -- Diesel Engines 2
- Families (Human) -- Family Members 2
- Families (Human) -- Family Members -- Wives 2
- Food 2
- Growler -- control room and attack center 2
- Growler -- crew's quarters 2
- Guided Missiles -- Cruise Missiles -- Regulus 1 2
- Military Forces (United States) -- Navy 2
- Russia (nation) -- Kamchatskiy Kray (kray) -- Kamchatka (peninsula) 2
- Strategy -- Deterrence 2
- United States (nation) -- Alaska (state) -- Aleutians West (national division) -- Adak (inhabited place) -- Naval Air Facility Adak (air base) 2
- United States (nation) -- Hawaii (state) -- Honolulu (county) -- Oahu (island) -- Pearl Harbor Naval Reservation (defense installation) 2
- Vacuum -- High Vacuum 2
- Business Administration -- Finance -- Income -- Salaries 1
- Celebrations -- Holidays -- Christmas 1
- Commanding Officer 1
- Communication And Radio Systems 1
- Decommissioning, May 25, 1964 1
- Discipline -- Captain's Mast 1
- Education -- Training -- Military Training -- Naval Training -- Submarine Training 1
- Engineering -- Marine Engineering -- Shipbuilding 1
- Executive Officer 1
- Growler -- chief petty officer quarters 1
- Growler -- enlisted mess 1
- Growler -- galley 1
- Growler -- missile checkout and guidance center 1
- Growler -- missile hangar(s), port missile hangar, starboard missile hangar 1
- Growler -- officer stateroom 1
- Growler -- sail 1
- Growler -- wardroom 1
- Hospital Corpsman Petty Officer 1st Class, HM1 1
- Humor -- Practical Jokes 1
- Hygiene 1
- Intelligence -- Military Intelligence 1
- Liberty 1
- Lieutenant Commander, O-4 1
- Life Sciences -- Medicine -- Dentistry 1
- Life Sciences -- Medicine -- Military Medicine 1
- Logistics -- Supplies -- Medical Supplies 1
- Maintenance Equipment -- Drydocks 1
- Master Chief Petty Officer, E-9 1
- Medical Services -- First Aid 1
- Performance Tests -- Psychological Tests 1
- Personnel Management -- Promotion (Advancement) 1
- Pest Control -- Insect Control 1
- Petty Officer 1st Class, E-6 1
- Radioman Master Chief Petty Officer, RMCM 1
- Recreation 1
- Recreation -- Entertainment -- Movies 1
- Russia (nation) -- Primorskiy Kray (kray) -- Vladivostok (inhabited place) 1
- Security -- Information Security -- Classified Materials 1
- Social Sciences -- Psychology -- Social Psychology -- Human Relations -- Race Relations 1
- United States (nation) -- California (state) -- Ventura (county) -- Point Mugu (cape) -- Naval Air Station Point Mugu (air base) 1
- Weapons -- Antisubmarine Weapons -- Depth Charges 1
- World War II, December 1941–September 1945 1 ∧ less