Albert Lee Kelln

Rear Admiral Albert Lee Kelln, U.S. Navy, was born in 1929 in Shattuck, Oklahoma, and earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1952. Early in his career, Kelln served during the Korean War on the USS Blue and the submarine USS Ronquil. His expertise in engineering and physics led to his selection by Admiral Hyman Rickover to join the Navy’s Nuclear Propulsion Operator’s School, making him one of the first officers qualified to operate a nuclear reactor.

Kelln was assigned to the USS Skate, the first submarine to break through the ice at the North Pole in 1958. Kelln is recognized as the first person to have sailed under, stood on, and flown over the North Pole. His childhood interest in radios inspired a communication system that kept the USS Skate connected to the White House while submerged.

Throughout his distinguished career, Kelln was chief engineer aboard the USS Enterprise (CVN-65), the first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, helping to organize its first nuclear refueling and major overhaul. He commanded the USS Ray, earning decorations for classified patrols, and led Attack Submarine Division Sixty-Two. In the 1970s, he commanded Polaris Submarine Squadron Fourteen in Scotland.

Remarkably, after only 21 years, Kelln was promoted to Rear Admiral, one of the youngest to achieve Flag Rank, and later led Submarine Flotilla Six. His shore assignments included several key program and leadership roles related to submarine warfare and nuclear power. He ultimately served as Deputy Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency. Dedicated to his field, he also founded the Naval Submarine League, leaving a lasting legacy in naval history. His awards include the Department of Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, and two Legion of Merit awards. In 2022 RADM Kelln passed and now rests in the U.S. Naval Academy Cemetery, Annapolis, Maryland.