‘It’s Been a Great Ride’

Rear Adm. Paul E. Tobin ’58 (U.S. Navy, Ret.), was awarded The Lawrenceville Medal in May. The medal, presented by the Alumni Council and also known as the Aldo Leopold Award, is the highest honor the School may grant, conferred upon an alum who has demonstrated “brilliant, lifelong work in a significant field of endeavor.” The award is dedicated to the memory of Aldo Leopold, Class of 1905, the renowned environmentalist and author.

Tobin, who retired from active duty in 1998, is a highly decorated military leader with over three decades of distinguished service to the U.S. Navy. He logged nearly two million miles at sea during a career that included executive commands as Director of Navy Information Management and Navy Logistics Group Western Pacific, Oceanographer of the Navy, and sea commands in the Vietnam and Gulf wars.

In recognition of his outstanding service, Tobin earned three Navy Commendations, a Meritorious Service Medal, a Bronze Star, four Legions of Merit, and two Navy Distinguished Service Medals. Following his retirement from active duty, he oversaw the Naval Historical Center as the 11^th Director of Naval History.

Earlier in the day, Tobin attended presentations by students in “Case Studies in International Policy and Strategy,” taught by Ash Shah ’93, where one of the topics was, “Is It Time to Reinstate the Military Draft?”

Tobin was later honored at a special award ceremony held during the School’s spring Board of Trustees meetings, where he received the medal and was celebrated by Alumni Association President Greg Melconian ’87 P’25 ’27, Head of School Steve Murray H’54 ’55 ’63 ’65 ’66 ’16 P’16 ’21, the Board of Trustees, Lawrenceville’s senior staff, family members, and Lawrenceville friends.

“Lawrenceville has been a big part of our lives,” Tobin said. “Some of my former teachers and classmates came to San Diego for my commissioning, and friends from Lawrenceville came to my retirement.”

Tobin’s acceptance speech was a trip down memory lane and a deep dive into Lawrenceville lore, as he acknowledged classmates and legendary faculty, and shared anecdotes from the past seven decades. He introduced his wife, Lynne Carter Tobin, as his Fifth Form prom date; reminisced about babysitting for faculty kid Peyton “Punky” Brewster, made famous by former NBC television executive Brandon Tartikoff ’66 in a 1980s sitcom; credited the English and history departments with teaching him to speak, read, and write; and praised the music program for cultivating his lifelong love of opera and classical music.

“All this points to a very interesting career. I can’t thank you enough,” Tobin said. “I’m being honored, my family is being honored, and the Navy is being honored. It’s been a great ride.”