U.S. naval officer and outstanding merchant shipbuilder of World War II.

Vickery graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md., in 1915 and became assistant to the chairman of the U.S. Maritime Commission in 1937. He was appointed a commissioner in 1940 and vice chairman of the commission in 1942, the year he became a rear admiral. Under his leadership, more than 5,500 oceangoing ships were built, an unprecedented production record and a contributing factor in winning World War II despite shipping losses inflicted by German submarines. In 1944 he was made a vice admiral.