This week Congressman Adam Schiff reintroduced legislation to pay tribute to former U.S. Navy Secretary Paul Ignatius – son of one of the first Armenian families to settle in Glendale and, at one point, the highest-ranking Armenian American in the U.S. government – by naming the Glendale post office at 6444 San Fernando Road in his honor.

“Paul is a true son of the American Dream – born to Armenian immigrants who escaped horrific persecution overseas, he has dedicated his entire life to serving his country and advocating for his community here in Glendale,” said Schiff. “His remarkable achievements as a service member, a high-ranking presidential appointee, an academic and a community leader are the kind that will be celebrated by generations of Americans to come. Paul told me that as a young man he did seasonal work for the post office in Glendale, and I’m thrilled to honor him in this one-of-a-kind way.”

“The Postal Service is a revered institution, and I am very proud to be associated with it. I’m pleased by this honor for a special reason – I worked at the Glendale post office as a temporary clerk when I was a college student,” said Ignatius.

Paul Ignatius was born on Nov. 11, 1920 in Glendale. His family was one of the earliest Armenian families to have settled in Glendale in 1911. He began his military career in the Navy during World War II, during which he served for four years. After graduating from Harvard Business School, he began to work with the Dept. of Defense.

His experience led him to various positions in both the Kennedy and Johnson administrations, including undersecretary of the Army and subsequently U.S. assistant secretary of defense. Under President Johnson, Ignatius became the 59^th U.S. Secretary of the Navy in 1967, and then the highest-ranking Armenian American in the U.S. military.

In addition to his storied career, Ignatius has long been a champion of the Armenian community in California, including through his work as a member of the USC Dornsife Institute of Armenian Studies National Honorary Council and as a supporter of the Armenian American Museum – the latter honored him at its 2019 gala for his commitment to public service and support of the Museum.