Verne Orr Verne Orr ( November 12 , 1916 – November 27 , 2008 ) , born George Vernon Orr , Jr . , was the 14th Secretary of the Air Force , appointed by President Ronald Reagan . From California , he was a businessman and educator who served in both state and national government positions . Early life . Verne Orr was born on November 12 , 1916 in Des Moines , Iowa . He grew up in the Midwest , then moved with his family to California just prior to entering high school . He graduated from Pomona College in 1937 where he was awarded a Phi Beta Kappa key . He earned a master ' s degree in business administration from Stanford University in 1939 . Orr served in the United States Navy during World War II . In April 1942 , he was called to active duty in the Navy Supply Corps . During the course of the war , Orr served in both the American and Pacific theaters of operations . He reached the rank of lieutenant prior to being released from active duty in November 1945 . Orr continued to serve in the Navy Reserve until 1951 when he was honorably discharged as a lieutenant commander . Business and public service . Following his release from active duty , Orr began working at his father ' s new car dealership in Pasadena , California , eventually became a partner in the business . Orr was active in the auto dealership from 1946 until 1962 . However , Orr began shifted his interests into his family ’ s investment business around 1960 . In 1963 , he became president of Investors Savings and Loan of Pasadena , serving in that position until 1966 . In 1966 , California ’ s governor , Ronald Reagan , selected Orr to be the director of the state ’ s Department of Motor Vehicles . He held that position until 1969 . He then served briefly as the state ' s director of General Services before becoming California ' s Director of Finance in 1970 , a position he held until 1975 . From 1975 to 1980 , Orr taught government finance at the University of Southern California ’ s graduate school of public administration from 1975 until 1980 . In 1977 , California Governor Jerry Brown named him to the University of California ’ s Board of Regents . In 1980 , Orr served on Ronald Reagan ’ s Presidential campaign committee . After Reagan was elected President , Orr became deputy director the President - elect ’ s transition office . President Reagan appointed him Secretary of the Air Force in 1981 . As the Air Force Secretary , Orr worked well with Air Force Chief of Staff Charles A . Gabriel . Together they secured major budget increases for the United States Air Force , taking care of Air Force personnel and modernizing the Services ' s force structure . Orr served for five years , leaving the Air Force in 1985 . After his Air Force service , Orr returned to Pasadena where he became a partner in Smith Orr & Associates , a planning and management consulting firm . In 1999 , Orr accepted the position of dean at the University of La Verne ’ s School of Business and International Studies . He served as dean the university until June 2002 when he retired as dean emeritus . In 2005 , after working on his dissertation for 14 years , Orr was award a doctor of philosophy degree in politics and public policy from Claremont Graduate University . At the time , he was 88 years old . His doctoral dissertation was on the development of the B - 1 bomber , a system he helped to procure as Secretary of the Air Force . Legacy . Orr died on November 27 , 2008 , at age 92 , at his home in Pasadena , California . Orr has had a long and distinguished career in business , government and education including numerous awards . Orr was honored as Pasadena ’ s Man of the Year in 1970 . He has also been Pasadena ’ s Salvation Army Man of the Year , and received Pasadena ’ s Patriot Award . He has served as president of the Pasadena Merchants Association , president of the United Way of Los Angeles County , president of the Kiwanis Club of Pasadena , and president of the Family ' s Services Association of Pasadena . He is director emeritus of Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena . At the state level , Orr was a University of California Regent and a Trustee of Scripps College in Claremont , California . He is also a member of the Advisory Council for the Florida A & M University - Florida State University , College of Engineering . Orr ’ s personal awards includes Department of Defense Distinguished Public Service Medal , United States Army Distinguished Civilian Service Medal , United States Navy Distinguished Public Service Medal , United States Air Force Exceptional Civilian Service Medal , and the Purple Heart . The University of La Verne has establishment of the " Verne Orr Endowed Scholarship Fund " . The fund honors Orr ' s legacy of leadership and service by awarding an annual scholarship to a qualified and deserving student in the university ' s School of Business and Global Studies . Each year the United States Air Force Association present the " Verne Orr Award " . This award recognizes a United States Air Force unit for making the most effective use of its human resources .