Rear Admiral Cullins, born on 19 November, 1928, in Annapolis, Maryland, received his early education in Palos Verdes Estates, California.  After attending the University of Houston, Texas, he entered the U.S. Naval Academy and graduated in June 1951, 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 reported to the commissioning detail of the first guided missile warship, the cruiser USS BOSTON (CAG-1) and served as a Weapons Division Officer and Combat Information Center Officer.

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, San Diego, reporting in January 1961 to the USS ORISKANY (CVA 34) as Naval Tactical Data Systems Officer.  He then reported to the commissioning detail of the first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS ENTERPRISE (CVAN 65), and served as Naval Tactical Data Systems Officer and Assistant CIC Officer from July 1961 to July 1963.

RADM Cullins then attended the U.S. Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island, where he also received a Master’s Degree in International Relations from George Wahington University, followed by assignment in the summer of 1964 as Executive Officer of the guided missile frigate USS LUCE (DLG 7).

In 1966 and 1967 he served aboard the nuclear-powered cruiser USS LONG BEACH (CGN 9) as Operation Officer, including a lengthy deployment to Vietnamese waters.  Following LONG BEACH, RADM Cullins served for two years in the Electronics Warfare/Command and Control Division in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operation (OP-03), then as Commanding Officer of the guided missile destroyer USS WADDELL (DDG 24), homeported 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 guided missile cruiser USS LITTLE ROCK (CLG 4), flagship for Commander, Sixth Fleet, homeported 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 Rossevelt 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.