Education
Hayward’s career began on the United States Ship Antietam (CV-36), he attended flight training in Pensacola, Florida, and received his wings in July 1950.
Hayward’s career began on the United States Ship Antietam (CV-36), he attended flight training in Pensacola, Florida, and received his wings in July 1950.
He is a 1947 graduate of the United States Naval Academy. Before his appointment as CNO, the admiral had tours of duty as:
Commander in Chief for the United States Pacific Fleet (August 12, 1976 - May 9, 1978);
Commander for the United States 7th Fleet (1976–1977);
Commanding Officer of the aircraft carrier United States Ship America. CV-66
In January 2007, the United States Naval Academy Alumni Association announced Admiral Thomas B. Hayward as one of four recipients of its 2007 Distinguished Graduate Award.
Admiral Hayward is one of the senior signatories of the March 31, 2009 letter urging the president to maintain the controversial "Don"t Ask, Don"t Tell" policy.
From the decks of the United States Ship Essex (CV-9) and United States Ship Valley Forge (CV-45), he accumulated 146 combat missions over of Korea and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, ten Air Medals, and two Navy Commendation Medals with Combat "V". During the Vietnam War, Hayward flew 36 missions, receiving the Legion of Merit and three Air Medals In 1981, he was awarded the Society of Experimental Test Pilots James H. Doolittle Award.
