Richard A. Claytor, a distinguished naval officer and former U.S. assistant secretary of energy for defense programs, died of natural causes on July 31, 2026, at Ingleside King Farm in Rockville, Maryland. He was 98 years old.
Born on September 4, 1927, in Roanoke, Virginia, Claytor was the son of William Graham Claytor and Gertrude (Boatwright) Claytor. He completed his secondary education at Virginia Episcopal School in Lynchburg, Virginia, in 1944 before attending the United States Naval Academy. He graduated in 1949 with a Bachelor of Science degree and embarked on a naval career that spanned nearly 25 years, retiring in 1973 at the rank of captain.
During his naval service, Claytor was notably involved with Admiral Hyman G. Rickover’s nuclear submarine program, serving initially as project officer for the Navy’s first nuclear submarines, the Nautilus and Seawolf. Later, he oversaw nuclear ship design and development as the technical manager of the Atomic Energy Commission’s Pittsburgh Office at the Bettis Atomic Power Laboratory. In this capacity, he directed quality control programs for materials and equipment used in Navy nuclear submarines and surface ships. For his contributions during this period, he received the Legion of Merit award from the Secretary of the Navy.
Earlier in his career, Claytor served aboard the aircraft carrier Leyte during the Korean War, participating in missions providing air support to U.S. ground forces. The Leyte was later awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for its service during the conflict. Claytor also commanded a minesweeper in the Atlantic Fleet and pursued graduate studies in naval architecture and marine engineering at the Webb Institute, earning advanced degrees in 1956.
After retiring from active duty, Claytor transitioned to the private sector, taking management roles with Burns and Roe, an architectural engineering firm based in Oradell, New Jersey. His work there focused on the design and construction of commercial power plants.
In 1990, he was appointed by President George H.W. Bush as assistant secretary of energy for defense programs. In this role, Claytor was responsible for overseeing the design, development, testing, production, and maintenance of the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile. His duties included supervision of the National Laboratories in Los Alamos, Livermore, and Sandia, as well as managing activities at the Nevada Test Site, where the last nuclear test occurred in September 1992 during his tenure.
Beyond his professional career, Claytor enjoyed camping, backpacking, and traveling with his family. He was active in community service, volunteering with the Boy Scouts, the Episcopal Church, and mentoring special education students at Richard Montgomery High School in Rockville.
Claytor is survived by his wife, Mary Louise Kilmer Mahood, three children from his first marriage to Gale McKinley, three grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, three stepdaughters, and two step-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers. Inurnment will be held at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. The family has requested that donations in his memory be made to the Nature Conservancy.