Sir John Rawlins | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1922-05-12)12 May 1922 Wiltshire, England |
| Died | 27 July 2011(2011-07-27) (aged 89) |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Branch | Royal Navy |
| Years of service | 1946–1980 |
| Rank | Surgeon Vice-Admiral |
| Commands | RN Medical Director General (1977–80) Institute of Naval Medicine (1975–77) Director of Health and Research (Naval) (1973–75) |
| Awards | Knight Commander of theOrder of the British Empire |
| Relations | ColonelStuart Rawlins (father) |
Sir John Stuart Pepys Rawlins (12 May 1922 – 27 July 2011) was aRoyal Navy officer and pioneer in the field ofdiving medicine.
Rawlins was the son of ColonelStuart Rawlins. He was educated atWellington College, read medicine atUniversity College, Oxford and trained atBarts, graduating in 1945.[1] Soon after, Rawlins began his career as a surgeon lieutenant Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve officer and was assigned to theColossus classaircraft carrierHMS Triumph in 1947.[1] After transitioning from the reserves to active duty in 1951, Rawlins was assigned to theRAF Institute of Aviation Medicine (IAM).[1][2] He was appointed aMember of the Order of the British Empire in 1955 for his work withprotective helmets,[3] and was promoted to the rank of surgeon commander while he continued his research at the IAM until 1961.[1] That year he was advanced to Officer of theOrder of the British Empire for his work on the automatic underwater escape system.[3] Rawlins was also a member of the US NavySEALAB project.[4]
Rawlins served as the RN Director of Health and Research from 1975 to 1977 and later as the RN Medical Director General from 1977 to 1980 when he retired assurgeon vice admiral.[1][5]
In 1971, Rawlins also served as the first "past president" on the founding executive committee for theEuropean Underwater and Baromedical Society.[6]
TheGilbert Blane Medal of theRoyal College of Surgeons was awarded in 1974 for his work oncold in diving.[3] Rawlins was aBritish Sub-Aqua Club Honorary Life Member as well as President of the Historical Diving Society and the Association of RN First Class Divers.[5] He received the Lowell Thomas Award fromThe Explorers Club in 2000.[2][7]
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