NOTAM 13-2011 (Wilkinson)

Dear Golden Eagles,

I am saddened to report that Vice Admiral Joseph B. Wilkinson, Jr., USN (Ret.) made his last take-off on Sunday, October 16, 2011 in Great Falls, Virginia. His loving wife of 56 years Jane, daughter Dr. Mary Wilkinson and her husband David Heyer, and two grandsons Michael and Christopher Heyer, survive him. Service and burial will be at Arlington National Cemetery on February 1, 2012 at 11 AM.

Admiral Wilkinson graduated from the US Naval Academy in ’52, entered directly into flight training and was designated a naval aviator in October ’54. He served a year in VF-92 flying AD-4’s, then transferred to VA-96 at NAS Moffett Field, CA where he flew the AD-6 for two more years. In ’58 he began a three-year tour at Naval Postgraduate School and MIT where he earned a BS in Aeronautical Engineering, and a MS degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics. His second sea tour was as Flight/Operations officer with VA-72 flying A4C’s. Joe was next assigned to Commander Operational Test and Evaluation Force (COMOPTEVFOR) staff from ’64-’65 and attended Armed Forces Staff College in ’66.

Admiral Wilkinson returned to sea duty in October ’66. He served first as XO, and then Commanding Officer of VA-94, on two combat deployments in the Vietnam area of operations. He flew a total of 245 combat missions and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, and 24 Air Medals for his heroic achievements.

Subsequent to his combat tours, Admiral Wilkinson served with distinction in a variety of acquisition management billets including as Deputy Program Manager at Air Force/Navy Joint Engine Project Office at Wright Patterson AFB, OH; Program Manager for A-6/EA-6 at Naval Air Systems Command, Washington, D.C.; and as Deputy Commander for Plans and Programs at Naval Air Systems Command. He attended National War College in Washington, D.C. He was Commander, Pacific Missile Test Center, Point Mugu, CA from ’82-’84. Joe returned to Naval Air Systems Command in late ’84, and was the Vice Commander for a year before assuming the top spot. He served four years as Commander, Naval Air Systems Command until his retirement in September ’89.

Admiral Wilkinson was proud to be one of the first Navy flag officers selected from the acquisition management career track. He was even prouder of when, as Commanding Officer, he brought his squadron home from Vietnam without a combat or operational loss. Joe was a polished, highly professional naval officer, and an outstanding pilot and combat leader.

Joe was a consummate gentleman, admired as a “class act” by his contemporaries, and a valued shipmate in combat. We have lost another Golden Eagles stalwart. He will be missed.

Sadly,

Bill Gureck, Pilot