PVP #11 Guest: Ret Vice Admiral Robert Monroe

Dr. Pry and Ross are REJOINED by Retired Vice Admiral Robert Monroe. Admiral Monroe enlisted in the Navy during World War II. He served in destroyers, minesweepers, cruisers, and amphibious assault ships, including three commands at sea. He subsequently served in flag rank for eleven years. As a Rear Admiral he commanded the South Atlantic Force; U.S. Atlantic Fleet; directed Navy Systems Analysis; and commanded the Navy's Operational Test and Evaluation Force. From 1977 until 1980 Vice Admiral Monroe was Director of the Defense Nuclear Agency, responsible for many of DOD's nuclear weapons activities, including stockpile management, safety, security, and survivability. He managed the U.S. national program for research into the effects of nuclear weapons, determining the vulnerabilities, "hardness," and survivability of U.S. weapons and C3 systems by means of underground nuclear tests, kiloton-level high-explosive tests, advanced simulators, and other means. He played a major role in directing DOD's four-year response to President Carter's proposed Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. From 1980 until 1983 Vice Admiral Monroe was Director of Navy Research, Development, Test and Evaluation (RDT&E). In this position he had planning and oversight responsibility for all major Navy RDT&E programs for weapons and C3 systems, strategic and tactical. He also was responsible for establishing, allocating, and managing the Navy's RDT&E budget. Robert now serves as a member of numerous advisory boards for the Department of Defense, Department of Energy, Department of State, NASA, and other government and private organizations. He will take your calls and answer email chat questions. Tun