Donald Layton, professor emeritus at the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School (NPS), died Feb. 26, 2017, at age 94.
Layton graduated from the Naval Academy in 1945. During the next 23 years as a naval officer, he commanded two ships and was an aviator for 20 years, qualified in single- and multi-engine land and seaplanes. In addition to earning a master’s degree in 1954 from Princeton in aeronautical engineering, he had earlier earned a bachelor’s degree from NPS.
In 1965, Layton became a military instructor at NPS and earned a master’s degree from that school in management. He earned a doctorate in applied mechanics from Canterbury University in South Africa and became the first director of the Navy Safety School in Monterey, Calif.
He retired from active duty in 1968 and was appointed an associate professor at NPS; he was later promoted to full professor before retiring a second time in 1988. Layton wrote nine textbooks and many papers and received awards for his teaching and research. He was a consultant and lectured throughout the United States and overseas on system safety.
Layton was predeceased by Kathleen, his wife of 65 years; and six children. He is survived by a daughter, three grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
Graduate memorials are prepared by the APGA.