George W. Anderson; Former Chief of Naval Operations, Four-Star Admiral

George W. Anderson, a retired four-star admiral and former chief of naval operations, has died. He was 85.

Anderson died Friday at Arleigh Burke Pavilion, a nursing home for retired military officers in suburban McLean, Va. Cause of death was given as congestive heart failure.

Anderson served as chief of naval operations, the Navy’s top uniformed post, from August, 1961, until his retirement in August, 1963.

His tenure coincided with a buildup of Soviet naval forces and increasing U.S. involvement in Southeast Asia. He frequently clashed with then-Defense Secretary Robert McNamara, who sought to exercise greater civilian control over the armed forces.

Anderson was born in New York City and graduated from the Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md., in 1930, where he became an aviator. He also graduated from the National War College in Washington.

During World War II, he served in the Plans Division of the Bureau of Aeronautics, and was involved in the design and production of warplanes. He also served in the Pacific as navigator and tactical coordinator of the carrier Yorktown. He was an assistant to the deputy Pacific Fleet commander, Vice Adm. John H. Towers.

From 1953 to 1955, he was special assistant to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and later served tours with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization headquarters in Europe and as chief of staff for the Pacific Fleet commander.

After retiring from the Navy, Anderson was ambassador to Portugal until 1966 and in the 1970s served as chairman of the President’s Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board.

Survivors include his wife, Mary Lee Sample Anderson, one daughter, a stepdaughter, 12 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.