Hero, Alfred O. 1924-

Alfred Olivier Hero Jr. (February 7, 1924 – January 20, 2006) was an American political scientist. Hero was born in New Orleans on February 7, 1924, to parents Alfred O. Hero Sr. and Effel A. Pearson. He graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1945 and served with the 309th Infantry Regiment, part of the 78th Infantry Division, until 1948. From 1948 to 1950, he attended Vanderbilt University, earning master's degrees in political science and psychology. Beginning in 1950, he worked in the Human Research Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff for Personnel, a division of the United States Department of the Army. Hero resigned from the Army in 1953 to pursue a doctorate in international relations at George Washington University. He subsequently worked as an editor for the journal International Organization and served as executive secretary of the World Peace Foundation until 1982. Subsequently, he became a visiting scholar at Harvard University's Center for International Affairs and a visiting professor at the University of Toronto. Hero and his wife Barbara raised four children, including Alfred O. Hero III. Hero died on January 20, 2006.