Robert H. Shumaker

Rear Admiral Robert Shumaker was born May 11, 1933 and enlisted in the Navy 1956-1988.  He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1956 with a Bachelor of Science degree.  He graduated from the U.S. Postgraduate School (Monterey, CA) with an M.S. in Aeronautical Engineering.  He was the second Navy aviator to have been shot down by the Vietnamese, on February 11th, 1965. Flying an F8 Crusader on a missison over North Vietnam as a Lieutenant Commander, Robert was shot down and captured.  Surviving torture and solitary confinement he was finally released after 8 years and 1 day on February 12, 1973.  During those 3 years in solitary confinement he designed the house in which he presently lives.  He gave the prison the title of the "Hanoi Hilton" and 50 years ago he even met Conrad Hilton.  In June 1973 he attended the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School again to get his 2nd M.S. and a PhD in Electrical Engineering.  He continued his military career as a weapons program manager and from June 1983-June 1986 as the Superintendent of the Naval Postgraduate School. From June 1986-February 1, 1988 (retired from the Navy as Rear Admiral) he was assigned to the Pentagon.