Vice Admiral Hekman was born in Ripon, California in 1933. Commissioned upon his graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1958, he served as Engineering Officer of USS ENTERPRISE (CVN 65) from 1971 through 1974. Vice Admiral Hekman commanded three ships, USS CHARLES BERRY (DE 1035), USS BENJAMIN STODDERT (DDG 22), and was the commissioning Commanding Officer of USS MISSISSIPPI (CGN 40).

     Selected for promotion to Flag Rank in December, 1980, Vice Admiral Hekman's Flag assignments include: Deputy Director for Operations, National Military Command Center, Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Command, Task Force Seventy-Five, U.S. Pacific Fleet; Commander, Cruiser-Destroyer Group ONE; Deputy Director for Research, Development, Test and Evaluation on the Staff of the Chief of Naval Operations; Deputy Commander for Surface Ship Programs, Naval Sea Systems Command; And as Commander, Naval Sea Systems Command from 1988 to 1991.

      After leaving the Navy in 1991, Vice Admiral Hekman accepted a Senior Executive Service appointment in the Department of Energy, serving at the Savannah River Site in South Carolina. He recently accepted a senior managerial position with Babcock and Wilcox Company; a division of McDermott International.

      Vice Admiral Hekman's personal decorations include the Department of Energy Superior Service Medal, the Department of Defense Superior Service Medal, The Presidential Legion of Merit (four awards), and the Bronze Star.

     Vice Admiral Hekman and his wife Doree are the proud parents of Lieutenant Commander Thomas Heckman, currently serving aboard USS SAIPAN. LCDR Hedman is married to Army Nurse Corps 1st Lieutenant Katie Ptasnik Hekman. Vice Admiral and Mrs. Hekman's daughter, Susan Smith, and her husband David are the parents of grandsons Erik and Mitchell Smith.