Russell A . Rourke Russell A . Rourke ( December 30 , 1931 – January 19 , 2003 ) was a lawyer and public official . He served in key staff positions on Capital Hill and in senior executive positions within the Federal Government . President Ronald Reagan appointed him to serve as the fifteenth Secretary of the Air Force . Education and early career . Born in New York City , Rourke attended the University of Maryland , receiving a bachelor of arts degree in 1953 . After graduation , he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps . He served in Korea , completing his active duty service as a first lieutenant . However , Rourke remained in the Marine Corps Reserve , eventually commanding the Marine Air Control Squadron 24 at Quantico , Virginia . He retired in 1985 as a colonel after 32 years of service . His Marine decorations include the Legion of Merit . After being released from active duty in the Marine Corps , Rourke attended law school at Georgetown University Law Center earning a bachelor of laws degree in 1959 . He then worked briefly in the Washington , D . C . law firm of Keogh , Carey and Costello as an associate attorney before beginning his public service career in 1960 . Public service . Rourke began his civilian government service as administrative assistant to Republican Congressman John R . Pillion of New York . In 1965 , he became administrative assistant to Congressman Henry P . Smith III another New York Republican . When Congressman Smith retired in 1974 , Rourke ran as a Republican - Conservative candidate for Congress in 36th district of New York . Although the district had been held by Republicans for the previous 62 years , Rourke had not lived in the district for many years and the Watergate scandal was an issue that worked against Republican candidates in the election . As a result , he was defeated by a three - to - two margin . Following his unsuccessful run for Congress , Rourke became deputy to presidential counselor John O . Marsh . In 1976 , he became a special assistant to President Gerald R . Ford . His responsibilities included legislative liaison between the White House and Congress . After President Ford lost his bid for re - election in 1977 , Rourke serve on the White House Transition Team . At the close of the Ford Administration , Rourke accepted a position as administrative assistant to Republican Congressman Harold S . Sawyer of Michigan . In May 1981 , President Reagan nominated Rourke as assistant secretary for legislative affairs in the Department of Defense . In that capacity , Rourke was the principal adviser to Secretary of Defense Caspar W . Weinberger on congressional matters and was responsible for overseeing congressional liaison activities in the Department and military Services . Upon his departure in 1985 , he was awarded the Department of Defense Distinguished Civilian Service Medal by Secretary Weinberger . On September 27 , 1985 , President Reagan nominated Rourke to replace Verne Orr who was retiring after five years as Secretary of the Air Force . After confirmation by the United States Senate , he was sworn in as the fifteenth Secretary of the Air Force on December 1 , 1985 . He served only four month in that position before resigning on April 7 , 1986 for personal reasons . After leaving the Air Force , Rourke and his family operated a real estate business in Annapolis , Maryland . He died in Annapolis , Maryland on January 19 , 2003 at the age 71 .