Hyman George Rickover was born Chaim Godalia Rickover on January 27, 1900, in Maków Mazowiecki, Poland, then part of the Russian Empire. His Jewish family emigrated to the United States in 1906 to escape persecution, settling first in New York and later in Chicago. Growing up in modest circumstances, Rickover worked from a young age to help support his family. His academic drive led him to secure an appointment to the United States Naval Academy, from which he graduated in 1922.

Rickover’s early naval career included service on surface ships and submarines, where he gained practical engineering experience. During World War II, he served in the Bureau of Ships, overseeing electrical engineering projects. After the war, his career took a decisive turn when he was assigned to explore the potential of nuclear energy for naval propulsion. By 1948, he was leading the Navy’s nuclear propulsion program, a role that would define his legacy.

His most pivotal achievement was the development of the USS Nautilus, the world’s first nuclear-powered submarine, launched in 1954. This innovation revolutionised naval warfare by allowing submarines to remain submerged for extended periods without refuelling. Rickover’s relentless standards and uncompromising leadership style ensured the success of the nuclear propulsion program, which later expanded to aircraft carriers and other vessels. His influence extended beyond the military, as he also promoted the peaceful use of nuclear energy.