It is with deep regret I inform you of the passing of Vice Admiral George Rudolph Sterner on 29 November 2024 at age 84. Vice Admiral Sterner entered the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) in September 1958 and served as a submarine officer until his retirement in May 1998 as Commander, Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA). His other commands included USS
Sturgeon (SSN-637) and USS
Florida (SSBN-728). He finished his career with an 11-year run at NAVSEA in positions of increasing responsibility, thereby having major impact on platforms and capabilities that are still in the fleet today.
George Sterner entered NROTC at Penn State University on 15 September 1958. He graduated with high distinction with a bachelor of science in aeronautical engineering. He was commissioned an ensign on 6 June 1962. Ensign Sterner then reported to Naval Nuclear Power School, Bainbridge, Maryland, that same month. In December 1962, he reported to Naval Nuclear Power Training Unit, Windsor, Connecticut. He then attended Naval Submarine School in Groton, Connecticut, starting in July 1963. He was promoted to lieutenant (junior grade) in December 1963.
In January 1964, Lieutenant (j.g.) Sterner was assigned to nuclear-powered fast-attack submarine USS
Tullibee (SSN-597).
Tullibee was a unique design, intended for a “hunter-killer” anti-submarine warfare role, and operated out of New London under Submarine Development Group TWO.
Tullibee was the smallest attack submarine and was a success from a technology perspective, but not from a cost effective view. Sterner was promoted to lieutenant in December 1965, after
Tullibee went into an extensive two-year overhaul at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine.
In July 1966, Lieutenant Sterner reported to Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California, graduating with distinction with a master of science degree in operations research in 1968. In June 1968, he reported to Naval Guided Missiles School, Dam Neck, Virginia Beach, Virginia, for duty under instruction. In September 1968, he was assigned to fleet ballistic missile submarine USS
Kamehameha (SSBN-642) (gold crew) as weapons officer. He was promoted to lieutenant commander in September 1969.
Kamehameha was homeported at Pearl Harbor, but it conducted all deterrent patrols out of Apra, Guam. In June 1970, the gold crew took the sub on an interfleet transfer to Charleston, South Carolina, via the Panama Canal, whereupon she commenced a deterrent patrol earlier than scheduled due to an engineering casualty in another boat and exchanged all 16 ballistic missiles in less than 24 hours.
In February 1971, Lieutenant Commander Sterner was assigned to USS
Archerfish (SSN-678) as engineering officer.
Archerfish was commissioned on 17 December 1971, operating out of New London for a shakedown cruise to the Caribbean and Bahamas, and then it commenced its first Mediterranean deployment in January 1973. In December 1973, he reported to Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet as a member of the Nuclear Propulsion Examining Board. In November 1975, he assumed duty as executive officer of USS
Henry L. Stimson (SSBN-655), conducting deterrent patrols operating out of Rota, Spain. He was promoted to commander in July 1977.
In December 1978, Commander Sterner commenced a pre-command training track at Department of Energy (Division of Naval Reactors) followed by additional training at Commander, Submarine Forces Atlantic. In June 1979, he assumed duty as commanding officer of
Sturgeon, operating from New London.
In May 1982, Commander Sterner reported to Trident Training Facility Bangor, Bremerton, Washington, followed by additional training at Nuclear Power Training Unit, Ballston Spa, New York. In October 1982, he assumed duty as pre-commissioning commanding officer of the third Trident ballistic missile submarine,
Florida, commissioned on 18 June 1983, whereupon he assumed duty as commanding officer (gold crew). He was promoted to captain in August 1983. Following shakedown and successful Trident C-4 missile launch from each crew,
Florida transited the Panama Canal in February 1984 to her homeport in Bangor, Washington.
In May 1984, Captain Sterner reported to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations as head, Submarine Tactical Weapons Branch (OP-22). In 1986, he attended the Advanced Management Program at the Harvard University School of Business. In July 1986, he reported to the Defense Systems Management College, Fort Belvoir, Virginia, graduating in 1987.
In March 1987, Captain Sterner reported to Commander, NAVSEA as a major program manager (for the Mark 48 Advanced Capability Torpedo). In January 1990, he became assistant deputy commander for Combat Systems Engineering at NAVSEA. He was promoted to rear admiral (lower half) on 1 September 1990.
In April 1991, Rear Admiral Sterner continued at NAVSEA as undersea warfare systems consolidation representative. In September 1991, he became program executive officer for Submarine Weapons and Combat Systems. In August 1992, he assumed duty as vice commander of NAVSEA. In October 1992, he was designated a rear admiral (two star) for duty in a billet commensurate with that rank and promoted to rear admiral on 1 April 1993.
In April 1994, Sterner assumed command of NAVSEA and was promoted to vice admiral on 1 May 1994. He led the largest of five Navy systems commands in the wake of major post–Cold War restructuring and was responsible for 180 acquisition programs. Vice Admiral Sterner retired on 1 May 1998.
Vice Admiral Sterner’s awards include the Distinguished Service Medal; Legion of Merit (four awards); Meritorious Service Medal (three awards); Navy Commendation Medal (two awards); Navy Unit Commendation; Meritorious Unit Commendation; Navy "E" Ribbon; Navy Expeditionary Medal; National Defense Service Medal with (two awards); and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (two awards).
After retiring from active duty, Vice Admiral Sterner first worked as vice president of System Integration for Walt Disney Imagineering, and he directed the technical aspects and delivery preparations for the Disney Wonder cruise ship. He then served as vice president of naval mission area executive for Raytheon and vice president of strategic pursuits for Raytheon. He served on advisory boards for other companies as well. Additionally, he served as a board member for Navy Mutual Aide Association and worked with the Applied Research Laboratory at Penn State University.
A celebration of life will be held 1300 Saturday 3 May 2025 at Faith Lutheran Church, 3313 Arlington Boulevard, Arlington, Virginia, with a reception to follow. Burial service to be at Arlington National Cemetery at a date to be determined.
Vice Admiral Sterner had an extraordinary career in the Cold War submarine force, right out of the detailer’s “model” path, balanced between fast-attack submarine and ballistic-missile submarine deterrent operations. In the underwater realm of the Cold War, there was little difference between war and peace; U.S. fast attacks tried to get as close to Soviet submarines as possible without being detected, while ballistic missile submarines tried to remain undetected by staying as far from Soviet submarines as possible. Submarine operations were inherently dangerous, and close encounters with Soviet submarines even more so, requiring the utmost in professional competence and discipline to accomplish the mission without inadvertently starting a war. In addition, fast-attack submarine operations in particular played havoc with home and family life due to unpredictable schedules—leaving port on no/short notice for unknown length of time and driven by whatever the Soviets might be doing. Through their spy networks, the Soviets knew how successful our submarines were at remaining undetected and therefore based their tactics on the assumption that U.S. subs would get the first shot; they would counterfire before being hit, and in a one-for-one exchange of submarines, their superior numbers would carry the day. However, in the end, the Soviets could not guarantee the survivability of their sea-based (SSBN) nuclear deterrent force, whereas the United States could, which was a major factor in ultimately ending the existential threat of the Cold War. The sudden end of the Cold War found Captain/Rear Admiral Sterner in senior leadership positions at NAVSEA, charged with developing new platforms and systems in a suddenly unpredictable era, complicated by the national desire for a (premature) “Peace Dividend.” This threw major organizations and programs into a state of turmoil, through which Admiral Sterner had to lead. Based on the success of U.S. Naval Forces in combat operations after 9/11, the verdict would have to be that he did a masterful job. The Navy owes a lot to his family for their sacrifice and support, but Vice Admiral Sterner’s career was one of those that truly made a major positive difference in the defense of our nation. His legacy lives on in the U.S. Navy forces operating around the globe today.
Rest in Peace, Admiral Sterner.