Arthur Robert Gralla (April 21, 1913 – May 22, 1998) was an American sailor who rose to the rank of Vice Admiral in the United States Navy.

He was decorated for several actions while serving as gunnery officer aboard the USS Reno in the Pacific theater of World War II in 1944.

He then enrolled in the United States Naval Academy, graduating in 1934[3] with honors, ninth out of a class of 463.

[3] Gralla then served in the Pacific theater of World War II, first aboard the USS Reno as gunnery officer.

Then, on October 24, during the Battle of Leyte Gulf, the Reno engaged the enemy to shield the heavily damaged USS Princeton.

Finally, on November 3, after the Reno was struck by an enemy torpedo and began taking on water, Gralla led the dewatering effort, which saved the ship.

As commander of the Norton Sound, Gralla led Task Force 88, a fleet of nine ships with 4,500 sailors.

The task force tested nuclear-armed rockets as part of Operation Argus[5] between July and September 1958.

[6] In September 1958 Gralla was ordered back to the Bureau of Ordnance in Washington, D.C.[4] In 1961 he led an investigation of a deadly fire aboard the carrier USS Saratoga.

Much of the top brass agreed with Gralla, and ultimately Congress did not endorse Packard's plan.

However, in November 1971, Gralla was forced into retirement in retaliation for testifying to Congress against Packard's plan.