Robert S. McNamara
Robert S. McNamara was an American business executive and the eighth U.S. Secretary of Defense, known for his role in escalating the United States involvement in the Vietnam War.
Business Figure
June 9, 1916
Gemini
July 06, 2009
93
San Francisco, California
Robert S. McNamara was an influential American business executive and politician, best known for his tenure as the U.S. Secretary of Defense during the Vietnam War. He played a significant role in the decisions leading to the U.S. intervention in Vietnam and the subsequent escalation of the conflict. McNamara also made substantial contributions to the Ford Motor Company as its president and CEO and later served as the president of the World Bank. He was a strong advocate for utilizing data and analytics in decision-making processes.
McNamara’s educational background includes a bachelor’s degree from Harvard University in 1937 and a master’s degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration in 1939. He authored a book titled “Decision making and problem solving: Robert S. McNamara and the Evolution of Modern Management” by Phil Rosenzweig and was featured in the documentary film “The Fog of War,” which offers an insider’s perspective on key events of the 20th century through McNamara’s eyes. As the eighth U.S. Secretary of Defense, McNamara’s involvement in the Vietnam War remains one of his most notable and controversial legacies.
