John F. Lehman, Jr. was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on September 14, 1942. He received a Bachelor's Degree in international relations from St. Joseph's College in 1964, and spent three years in the Air Force Reserves while attending Cambridge University. In 1968 he left the Air Force Reserves and accepted a commission of Ensign in the Navy, where he advanced to the rank of Commander. After serving on the National Security Council and as Deputy Director of the U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, he was president of Abington Corporation. Lehman was selected to be Secretary of the Navy on January 23, 1981, and remained in that post until April 10, 1987.