Robert McNamara

Robert Strange McNamara (born June 9, 1916), is an American business executive and a former United States Secretary of Defense. McNamara served as Secretary of Defense from 1961 to 1968. He resigned that position to become President of the World Bank (1968-1981).

Early life and career

McNamara was born in San Francisco where his father was sales manager of a wholesale shoe firm. He graduated in 1937 from the University of California, Berkeley with a degree in economics and philosophy, and earned a master's degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration in 1939.

Related Topics:
San Francisco - 1937 - University of California, Berkeley - Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration - 1939

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He worked a year for the accounting firm of Price Waterhouse in San Francisco, and then in August 1940 returned to Harvard to teach in the Business School. Following his involvement there in a program to teach the analytical approaches used in business to officers of the Army Air Forces, he entered the Army as a captain in early 1943, serving under Col. Curtis LeMay with analysis of U.S. bombers' efficiency and effectiveness as a major responsibility. He left active duty three years later with the rank of lieutenant colonel. During this period, McNamara helped to plan the 1945 bombing of Tokyo.

Related Topics:
Accounting - Price Waterhouse - San Francisco - August - 1940 - Harvard - Business School - Army Air Forces - Captain - 1943 - Curtis LeMay - Lieutenant colonel - 1945 bombing of Tokyo

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In 1946 McNamara joined Ford Motor Company, which he later said had been the result of a Life magazine article which reported how few college-educated managers there were at the then unprofitable company. He was one of ten former WW II officers known as the "Whiz Kids". Starting as manager of planning and financial analysis, he advanced rapidly through a series of top-level management positions, becoming on 9 November 1960 the first president of Ford from outside the family of Henry Ford, one day after President Kennedy's election. McNamara received substantial credit for Ford's expansion and success in the postwar period.

Related Topics:
1946 - Ford Motor Company - Life - Whiz Kids - Planning - 9 November - 1960 - Henry Ford - Kennedy

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During his engagement in the Ford automobile company, he analyzed why a car model built by ford was not popular. He revised the design; and the result was a car that was more simple and affordable to the common public. He also improved car safety by introducing safety belts.

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