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
PresidentDwight D. Eisenhower
Preceded byJames H. Douglas Jr.
Succeeded byEugene M. Zuckert
United States Under Secretary of the Air Force
In office
August 3, 1959 – December 11, 1959
PresidentDwight D. Eisenhower
Preceded byMalcolm A. MacIntyre
Succeeded byJoseph V. Charyk
Personal details
Born(1905-03-16)March 16, 1905
Houston, Texas, U.S.
DiedMay 17, 1987(1987-05-17) (aged 82)
Houston, Texas, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
EducationPrinceton University (BA)
Military service
Branch/serviceUnited States Navy
Years of service1942–1945

Biography

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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.[1]

References

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  1. ^ Cook, Joan (1987-05-19), "Dudley C. Sharp, Executive and ex-Air Force Secretary", The New York Times
Political offices
Preceded by United States Under Secretary of the Air Force
1959
Succeeded by
Preceded by United States Secretary of the Air Force
1959–1961
Succeeded by