Albert A. Heckman as born on August 29, 1918, at Reading, Pa., where he was graduated from Reading High School in 1935. He attended Wyomissing Polytechnic Institute, Wyomissing, Pa., an engineering school, before entering the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, New London, Conn., with an appointment as cadet on August 9, 1939.
After graduating from the Academy with a Bachelor of Science Degree and commission as Ensign on June 19, 1942, during World War II, he served as assistant damage control officer on board the Coast Guard-manned attack troop transport USS Samuel Chase during amphibious landings at Algiers, Sicily, and Salerno. From January to September of 1944, he was navigator on board the Coast Guard Cutter Tampa of Boston on convoy escort duty in the Greenland region.
Completing an indoctrination course in LORAN at the Coast Guard Academy in March 1945, he assumed command of the LORAN Group Office on Guam, Mariannas Islands, Pacific. He remained at that outpost until March 1946, when he was reassigned to duty as Assistant Chief, Aides to Navigation Division in the Third Coast Guard District office, New York.
He served his next tour of duty as Executive Officer of the 311-ft. Coast Guard ocean station weather patrol vessel Rockaway, based at New York, from February 1949 to November 1950. After undergoing a year's course of study in electronics maintenance at the Service School Command, Great Lakes Naval Training Center, he became, Chief, Electronics Supply Division, Coast Guard Supply Center, Jersey City, N.J., in December 1951.
From August 1955 to April 1959, he served as Chief, Technical Services Section, Electronics Engineering Division, at Coast Guard Headquarters, Washington, D.C. During the following two years he commanded the Cutter Acushnet, based at Portland, Me., on various search and rescue assignment and on International Ice Patrol. He received a Coast Guard Commendation Medal for outstanding performance of duty while commanding that vessel in attempts to assist the Coast Guard Cutter General Greene and a Moran tug that were stranded during a blinding snowstorm and gale off Cape Code, Mass., on March 4, 1960.
In August 1961, he became Chief, Electronics Engineering Section, First Coast Guard District, Boston, Mass. This tour of duty was terminated in August 1962, when he was transferred to the Headquarters of the U.S. Army Military Mission to the Imperial Iranian Gendarmerie in Teheran, Iran, to serve as adviser to the Chief, Service and Operations Directorate of the Imperial Gendarmerie on matters involving organization, law enforcement, and anti-smuggling. He received the Army Commendation Medal upon conclusion of that assignment.
Upon returning to the United States in October 1964, he assumed the post of Chief Director of the national activities of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and Chief, Auxiliary Division at Coast Guard Headquarters, Washington, D.C.
After next attending the National War College from August 1965 to June 1966, he became Chief, Public Information Division at Headquarters. In February 1967, he was awarded a Master's Degree in International Affairs by George Washington University. In October of 1967, he was named Deputy Chief of the newly created Office of Public and International Affairs at Headquarters.
By nomination of the President on January 25, 1970, and approval of the Senate, the then CAPT Heckman was appointed two-star flag officer to rank as permanent Rear Admiral from July 1, 1970. At that time he assumed the post of Inspector General of the U.S. Coast Guard with offices at Headquarters.
In May 1972, RADM Heckman became Commander, 9th Coast Guard District, Cleveland, Ohio, which covers Coast Guard operations in the Great Lakes region.
Following is a resume of his appointments in rank: Ensign, June 19, 1942; Lieutenant (jg), May 15, 1943; Lieutenant, September 27, 1944; Lieut. Commander, August 6, 1951; Commander, July 1, 1957; Captain, July 1, 1964; Rear Admiral, July 1, 1970.
In addition to the Coast Guard Commendation Medal and the Army Commendation Medal, CAPT Heckman has the following World War II campaign service medals and ribbons: American Defense; American Area (one star); European-African-Middle Eastern Area (three stars); Asiatic-Pacific; World War II Victory.
RADM Heckman's wife is the former Jane Grace A. of New York City. They have on daughter, Norah.
RADM Heckman is the son of the late Mr. William Otis Heckman and Mrs. Heckman.