Alumni Spotlight
EHS Alumnus Robert Gillen Served as 59th Commander of the USS Constitution
Robert L. Gillen in the 1951 English High Yearbook
In June, 2022, the City of Boston celebrated Robert Gillen Day. Although his name may not be familiar, if any alumnus personified the English High School motto — ‘Honor… Achievement… Service to Mankind’– it was Robert “Bob” Gillen who, at age 17 after four years at EHS, enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1951. His exceptional career helped him to ultimately earn the prestigious position of 59th Commander of the USS Constitution.
In case you missed History class that day, the three-masted frigate USS Constitution, also known as ‘Old Ironsides,’ was launched in 1797. George Washington himself chose the ship’s name. Having survived numerous battles around the world – thanks to her 44-guns and ‘live oak’ hull — she is the world’s oldest ship afloat. She marked her 200th birthday in 1997, sailing under her own power. Today, she serves as a proud symbol of our country’s heritage and, as a museum, welcomes thousands annually at Boston’s Charlestown Navy Yard.
Commander Robert L. “Bob” Gillen, United States Navy
A Long and Impressive Navy Career
After basic training at Newport, RI, Bob received additional training at San Diego after which he became a cryptologic technician. For 10 years he served with the Naval Security Group in the U. S., Morocco and Germany, and rose to chief cryptologic technician by 1961.
Bob was selected for commissioning as a special duty officer in cryptology which led him to tours in the Philippines, Washington, Alaska, and Spain. As a lieutenant commander, he was on the staff of the Second Fleet from 1972 to 1975 and the Atlantic Fleet from 1975 to 1978. Bob pioneered in the development of operations and signal security that provided tactical commanders with greatly enhanced electronic warfare capability.
Protecting A National Treasure
Bob’s assignment to the USS Constitution was the result of a special arrangement since special duty officers are not normally placed in such positions. During his command tour, he paid particular attention to the development of systematic maintenance procedures that resulted in economies of both effort and funds. He produced a study that resulted in the establishment of a support activity to oversee and coordinate national and international ship visits.
On one turnaround cruise, he hosted Leverett Saltonstall, former Senator and Governor of Massachusetts. More than two decades earlier, Senator Saltonstall had helped pass Congressional legislation that ensured the ship’s continued existence in the U.S. Navy. In 1980, Bob and the Constitution led the Tall Ships parade into Boston. Gillen retired from the Navy in 1980.
Commander Robert L. Gillen, right, the 59th commander of the USS Constitution on board the ship with U.S. Navy Commander Sean D. Kearns, the 73rd commander. Photo: Bill Brett
A Man of Honor and Achievement
In retirement after a 30-year Navy career, Bob became naval science instructor and head of a Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (NJROTC) unit at a Boston high school. He remained involved with the Constitution, maintained connections with fellow former commanding officers, and was involved with activities surrounding the ship’s 200th anniversary in 1997. He died in 2018.
One of Bob’s friends, Lieutenant Colonel (retired) David Bennett, Senior Army Instructor at English High’s Army JROTC, shares a personal story “because it shows what a great man he was in helping people outside of his immediate vicinity.”
Commander Gillen was a HAM radio enthusiast.
Bennett recalls, “Bob was always helping others. For 10 years, I saw him at the Constitution Inn Luncheons with my JROTC cadets. We shared stories about our support and volunteer work with the Boy Scouts. I tried on my own to schedule a Scout troop sleepover on the ship but to no avail. “At a JROTC Awards Luncheon, I shared with him my difficulty in getting any response from the Navy. He promised to ‘make a call.’ The next day I got a call at EHS from the ship’s Lt. Commander approving the sleepover. If you know anything about the Navy and how ‘top-down’ their culture is, you can appreciate the power and influence Bob had. He didn’t have to do that. It had no connection to English High or JROTC, but it was a lifetime experience for the Scouts they will never forget. It was a great example of doing a ‘good turn’ for someone (Scouting term) that nobody knows about. That simple act shows what a great man Bob Gillen was.”
