RADM Thomas J. CASSIDY Jr., USN (Ret),
Golden Eagle Emeritus
 

Gentlemen,
 
It is my sad duty to inform you that on 10 July 2025 Golden Eagle Emeritus RADM Thomas J. “Tom” CASSIDY Jr., USN (Ret), made his Last Take Off in his home city of San Diego, CA, surrounded by family. Tom was in hospice care and was one week short of 93 years of age.
 
Tom was born in New York City, NY, on 16 July 1932, the son of a NYC firefighter and his mother a homemaker. He was raised in the city, attending and graduating from high school and then attended Iona University, also located in the city. After several years in school, and probably driven by his desire to fly, Tom joined the Navy through the NAVCAD program, beginning his active-duty career on 2 January 1952.
 
Reporting to Pensacola, FL, in January 1952 to begin his flight training, Tom flew the SNJ Texan in basic training. He then flew the F-6F Hellcat and the T-33/TV-2 Shooting Star for advanced training in Corpus Christi, TX. He earned his Wings of Gold on 13 May 1953. His first set of operational orders were to the VF-21 Freelancers, reporting in June 1953, where he flew the F9F-6 and F9F-7 Cougar, the FJ-3 Fury, and the F-11 Tiger during his four-year tour in the squadron. Follow-on orders were back to the training command as an instructor, based in Pensacola, FL, but flying from several airfields in the area (Pensacola, Whiting), where he flew the T-28 Trojan, SNB (Twin Beech), T-2V SeaStar, and the T-34 Mentor. Following this two-year tour, he next had the opportunity for a U.S. Air Force exchange tour in September 1959 and in that one-year tour he flew the F-86 Sabre, F-102 Delta Dagger, F-101 Voodoo, and the T-33.
 
In October 1960, Tom returned to the Navy reporting to the newly established VF-161 Chargers, homeported in Cecil Field, FL, flying the F-3B Demon. In September 1961 the squadron moved to NAS Miramar, San Diego, CA, assigned to USS Oriskany (CVA 34), and Carrier Air Group 16. Tom made two WestPac deployments while in the squadron, the first from June–December 1962 and the second from August 1963–March 1964, the last deployment of the F-3B Demon. Most importantly, while in San Diego, he met his future wife, Lynn. They married in Sasebo, Japan, in December 1963 during a mid-deployment port call when several squadron wives and girlfriends met the ship. On return from deployment the squadron transitioned to the F-4B Phantom II. While in the squadron, Tom served as the Administration Officer, Operations Officer, and Maintenance Officer. Departing the squadron in May 1964, Tom remained with the same team but now as the Flight Deck Officer and Aircraft Handling Officer on Oriskany, reporting as ship’s company in July 1964. The ship/airwing team deployed again to WestPac and Vietnam combat operations in April 1965. Tom did manage to obtain some cockpit time while in his ship’s company tour, flying the S-2 Tracker, C-1 Trader and the F-8 Crusader.
 
On completing his tour aboard Oriskany in August 1965, Tom next reported to the VX-4 Evaluators at Point Mugu, CA, as the Chief Project Officer. This was no doubt an exciting and satisfying tour for him, given all the different aircraft he had the opportunity to fly — the F-4B/J, F-8, F-86, SNJ, S-2, F-104 Starfighter, all USAF F-4 models, Mirage G (swing wing Mirage prototype), Paris II (French 4-seat trainer), various helicopters and some classified aircraft. During this time frame, VX-4 was heavily involved in fighter tactics development for the Vietnam War, which somewhat accounts for Tom’s wide exposure to various aircraft types, both domestic and foreign. The depth and breadth of VX-4’s work included the OPEVAL of the F-4 automated carrier landing system, where Tom flew 30 hands-off landings, and high-altitude research flights in the F-4 and F-8, with Tom flying to 80,000 feet in those aircraft. At the completion of this tour in July 1968 and after a few months of training time, Tom began his XO/CO tour in March 1969 with VF-161 at NAS Miramar, CA, flying the F-4B, deploying aboard USS Coral Sea (CVA 43). He assumed command in April 1970 in the middle of a Vietnam War deployment from September 1969–July 1970. Tom competed his successful command tour in March 1971 and then reported to Washington, DC, to the OPNAV staff in OP-506, the Aircraft Weapons Requirements office for the F-4, F-8, and F-14. This one-year tour was followed by a year of college to finish and earn his bachelor’s degree, but he still logged cockpit time in the F-4, F-8, A-4 Skyhawk and various helos.
 
In August 1973, Tom participated in Electronic Warfare Joint Test at Nellis AFB, again flying the F-4B and most probably working tactics development. His next tour in July 1974 was overseas, stationed at NAS Cubi Point, Philippines, at CTF-77 where he served as the Operations Officer. This turned out to be a particularly busy tour, especially in April/May of 1975 with the fall and evacuation of Saigon followed by the Mayaguez incident. His next duty station took him back to San Diego as the Commanding Officer of NAS Miramar, assuming command in September 1977 for a two-year tour. Once again, he was back in the cockpit, flying the F-14 Tomcat, F-4, A-4, F-5 Tiger II, T-38 Talon, T-28 and the C-1. In October 1979 he once again returned to Washington, DC, on the OPNAV staff as Head, Aircraft Weapons Requirement Branch. After five months in this billet, he was selected to be the CNO Representative to the Chairman, JCS from March through October 1980, and then became the Director, Tactical Readiness Division on the OPNAV staff. He finally achieved escape velocity from the DC arena in August 1983 when he reported back to NAS Miramar, CA, to assume the billet of Commander, Fighter Airborne Early Warning Wing, Pacific. As expected, he was back in the cockpit flying all the aircraft at Miramar, that included the F-4, F-8, F-14, F-5, T-28, F-16 and a flight in the F-20. This was also the same time that the movie “TOPGUN” was being filmed, so he was involved in some of the planning and coordination of assets with the film company. Of note, he was flying one of the black painted F-5s, simulating MiGs, in the movie. Tom completed this tour in September 1985 and retired from active duty on 1 October 1985.
 
In a remarkable 32-year Naval Aviation career that saw Tom flying most U.S. Navy aircraft, many USAF aircraft, and several foreign aircraft, he accumulated over 6,000 flight hours (of which approximately 5,000 were in VF/VA aircraft), 780 carrier arrested landings, and 155 combat missions over Vietnam as XO/CO of VF-161. Personal decorations include a Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross and Navy Commendation Medal with Combat “V.”
 
After retirement, Tom remained engaged in aviation, joining General Atomics, in San Diego, in 1987. He was at the forefront, and considered by some, to be the “father” of bringing unmanned aircraft into mainstream usage by intelligence and defense agencies, as well as military services. In 1991 he became the President of what would become General Atomics Aeronautical Systems where he was responsible for sales, design, manufacturing, training, operations and support activities of the company’s unmanned aircraft systems programs, notably the Predator and follow-on programs, (Reaper and Avenger). He retired from day-to-day management as President in 2010 but remained on the Board of Directors. In 2015 he was inducted into the San Diego Air & Space Museum’s Hall of Fame for his contributions to the remotely piloted aircraft industry.
 
Tom is survived by his wife, Lynn, his son Tom (Kathrine), daughter Megan (Michael), and three grandchildren. Services are being planned for the Miramar National Cemetery, with those details to be provided in a Special Notice when known.
 
He will be missed.
 
In sadness,
Marty CHANIK
Pilot