Rear Admiral Cullins, born November 19, 1928, in Annapolis, Maryland, received his early education in Palos Verdes Estates, California and attended the University of Houston, Houston, Texas. He entered the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD and graduated in June 1951, as an Ensign with a Bachelor of Science degree.

Following graduation he served four years in destroyer assignments in the Pacific Fleet during the Korean War:  USS ROGERS (DDR 876) as Anti-Submarine Warfare Officer and Communications Officer; and USS CARPENTER (DDE 825) as Combat Information Center Officer and Operations Officer.

In 1955, RADM Cullins was selected to attend the Navy's first officer course in guided missiles at Pomona, California.  He subsequently served aboard USS BOSTON (CAG-l) as a Weapons Division Officer and Combat Information Center Officer, and was promoted to Lieutenant February 1, 1956.

In late 1957, he was selected as an instructor for a senior officer course in guided missiles with the Fleet Anti-Air Warfare Training Center, San Diego.  In January 1960, he became a student of computer programming at the Naval Electronics Laboratory (NEL), San Diego. LT. Cullins, who had learned computer programming and Naval Tactical Data System (NTDS) operations at NEL, oversaw the NTDS installation on the USS ORISKANY (CVA 34) and USS ENTERPRISE (CVAN 65). In January 1961 Cullins reported to the USS ORISKANY) as Naval Tactical Data Systems Officer. He then reported to the commissioning detail of the first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS ENTERPRISE , and served as Naval Tactical Data Systems Officer and Assistant CIC Officer from July 1961 to July 1963.

Following a year at the Naval War College, Newport, RI , RADM Cullins served as Executive Officer aboard USS LUCE (DLG-7) . He was promoted to Commander March 1, 1966. Subsequent assignments included: USS LONG BEACH (CGN-9) , Operations Officer; Electronics Warfare/Command and Control Division in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Washington, D. C. and his initial command assignment as commanding Officer of USS WADDELL (DDG-24) , home-ported in Yokosuka, Japan., also operating with American Naval forces in Vietnamese waters.  During his command of WADDELL, the ship won the Cruiser-Destroyer Battle Award two years in a row.

After a two-year assignment in the Ship Acquisition and Improvement Division, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (OP-03), RADM Cullins took command of the 1000 man guided missile cruiser USS LITTLE ROCK (CLG 4), flagship for Commander, Sixth Fleet, home-ported in Gaeta, Italy.  LITTLE ROCK also won the Atlantic Fleet Battle Efficiency Award during the second year of RADM Cullins’ command.

In May 1975, RADM Cullins was assigned to the Surface Warfare Division, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (OP-03).  In June of 1976, he assumed duty as Director, Information Systems Division, Navy Program Planning, in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (OP-090).  This division was reorganized, and became part of the Command, Control and Information Systems Division in the Office of Chief of Naval Operations (OP-094).  On January 1, 1977, he took command of the Navy's computer command, the Naval Data Automation Command, which he had formed and organized, and served as its first commander for three years.

In March 1980, RADM Cullins assumed duties as Commander South Atlantic Force, headquartered in Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico, and operated with the navies of South America and West-Central Africa throughout 1980 and 1981.

RADM Cullins retired from the Navy in 1981, and in May 1985 joined The Retired Officers’ Association in Alexandria, Virginia, as Director of Management Information Systems.

RADM Cullins holds two Legions of Merit, Bronze Star with Combat “V”, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Republic of Vietnam Honor Medal, Republic of Vietnam Distinguished Service Order, Navy Unit Commendation and Meritorious Unit Commendation awards.

RADM Cullins is married to the former Valaree M. Jacobson of Long Beach, California, daughter of the late Commodore Jacob H. Jacobson and Mrs. Jacobson.  They have two children, Mrs. James A. Wilcox of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Mr. Richard F. Cullins, of Annapolis, MD.

Bob Wilkins,  DS1 1972-1976, on 06 Dec 09 contributed this: "....Captain Cullins was big on sports and organized a number of teams, particularly basketball, around the Tiger theme.  Check out the team shirts on pages 31 and 32 of the 1974 cruise book and you'll see the emblem on the team shirts.  Another thing I remember about Captain Cullins is that he always used to play the Tiger Rag over the 1MC whenever we were breaking away from an UNREP.