Dudley C. Sharp

Dudley Crawford Sharp (March 16, 1905 – May 17, 1987) was Secretary of the Air Force from December 11, 1959 until January 20, 1961, under president Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Dudley Sharp
United States Secretary of the Air Force
In office December 11, 1959 – January 20, 1961
President	Dwight D. Eisenhower
Preceded by	James H. Douglas Jr.
Succeeded by	Eugene M. Zuckert
United States Under Secretary of the Air Force
In office August 3, 1959 – December 11, 1959
President	Dwight D. Eisenhower
Preceded by	Malcolm A. MacIntyre
Succeeded by	Joseph V. Charyk
Personal details
Born	(1905-03-16)March 16, 1905 Houston, Texas, U.S.
Died	May 17, 1987(1987-05-17) (aged 82) Houston, Texas, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Education	Princeton University (BA)
Military service
Branch/service	United States Navy
Years of service	1942–1945

Biography

Born in Houston, Texas, Sharp was the son of Walter Benona Sharp. He graduated from Princeton University in 1928 and joined the Mission Manufacturing Company of Houston, holding many positions within the firm. He served in the United States Navy from 1942 to 1945.

In 1955, he was appointed as Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Materiel. Mr. Sharp was appointed Under Secretary of the Air Force in August 1959 and on December 11, 1959, he became Secretary of the Air Force and served until 1961.

Sharp was a friend from childhood of Howard Robard Hughes Jr. Dudley met Howard because both Howard and Dudley's fathers were business partners in the Sharp-Hughes Tool Company in Houston. Sharp was married to Tina Cleveland, daughter of Justina Latham and W. C. Cleveland of Houston.

Sharp died on May 17, 1987. He was 82 years old and lived in Houston, Texas.