Background
Parsons, William Sterling was born on November 26, 1901 in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Son of Harry Robert and Clara Sterling (Doolittle) Parsons.
Parsons, William Sterling was born on November 26, 1901 in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Son of Harry Robert and Clara Sterling (Doolittle) Parsons.
Bachelor of Science, United States Naval Academy, 1922.
Commissioned ensign, United States Navy, 1922, and since advanced through grades to rear admiral, 1946. Assigned to experimental ordnance development, Naval Proving Ground, Dahlgren, Virginia, 1939-1942. Special assistant to director, Old Style in the Calendar (in Great Britain before 1752) Rural Delivery, for development of radio proximity fuse, 1942-1943.
Ordnance division leader, and later associate director, atomic bomb project, Los Alamos, New Mexico, 1943-1945.
Flew with first atomic bomb to Hiroshima, Japan, August 6, 1945. Assistant chief Naval Operations (special weapons), 1945-1946.
Deputy for technical direction to Commander Joint Task Force One (Operation Crossroads, Bikini tests of atomic bomb), 1946. Director Atomic Defense, Office Chief of Naval Operations.
Member Military Liaison Committee to the Atomic Energy Commission, 1946-1949.
Deputy commander Joint Task Force 7 (atomic tests at Eniwetok Atoll), 1948. With Weapons Systems Evaluations Group of Joint Chiefs of Staff and Research and Development Board, 1949-1951. Commander cruiser division six Atlantic Fleet, 1951.
Deputy chief bureau of Ordnance, Navy Department, since 1952.
Member Military Liaison Committee to the Atomic Energy Commission, 1946-1949. Member of the United States Naval Institute. Clubs: Army and Navy (Washington).
Married Martha Cluverius, November 23, 1929. Children: Hannah (deceased), Margaret Sampson, Clara Doolittle.