Vice Admiral Robert I. Price, USCG, was born on 22 September 1921 in New York City. A June 1945 graduate of the Coast Guard Academy, he saw a good deal of sea duty during his early assignments, including a three year tour as deck office and navigator onboard the icebreaker NORTHWIND going to the Arctic and south for "Operation High Jump", the 1946-47 Antarctic expedition.
The admiral's sea going career was interrupted from June 1950 to July 1953 while he attended post graduate school in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, graduating with a professional degree of Naval Engineer.
VADM Price was nominated for flag rank in 1974 while serving as Deputy, Chief Office of Marine Environment and Systems at Headquarters. His promotion to Rear Admiral came in July of that year when he stepped up to Office Chief. Leaving that post after two years he was awarded his second Meritorious Service Medal for his accomplishments. June of 1976 saw the Admiral heading westward to take command of the 11th District in Long Beach where he remained until July of this year when he was named Commander, Atlantic Area and promoted to the rank of Vice Admiral. On completion of the 11th District tour, he received a Gold Star in lieu of a second award of the Legion of Merit, having received his first such award while a Commander for successfully negotiating improvement in the International Fire Safety Construction Standards for passenger ships.
Throughout his career VADM Price was deeply involved with international marine safety and anti-pollution standards, contributions that earned his election as a Fellow of the Royal Institute of Naval Architects of London in 1972.
Admiral Price passed away on 20 October 2019, and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery. He was married to the former Virginia Miller of Jefferson City, TN. They are survived by their two daughters, and several grandchildren.