Posted on 09/04/2018
Dr. John "Breeze" William Martin, Jr. unexpectedly passed away peacefully in Herndon, VA on Friday, August 10, 2018, at the age of 62. Commander Martin, US Navy (Retired), was born in Fort Sill, OK on December 31, 1955, to Celia Jewell Casey Martin and the late John William Martin, Sr. The son of an army colonel, John attended many schools before graduating from Tehran American High School (Tehran, Iran) in 1974. John went on to attend the United States Naval Academy where he graduated in 1978 with a Bachelor of Science in Ocean Engineering. He was then stationed in Pensacola for flight training. John became a lieutenant in the US Navy in 1982. He was a graduate of the Navy Fighter Weapons School "Top Gun", and was a flight instructor at Miramar Naval Air Station in San Diego. He was attached to Fighter Squadrons VF-1, VF-124, and VF-302. In 1986 John earned a Master of Business Administration from Chapman College. John received an Air Medal for heroic achievement while participating in aerial flight while serving as Radar Intercept Officer in an F-14A aircraft, Fighter Squadron 302, while operating off the coast of San Diego in 1991. Four years later, John became a Commander in the United States Naval Reserve. He retired from the US Navy in 1998. John went on to work for several companies including Hughes Aircraft/Raytheon, ManTech, and Microsoft, and also owned a professional consulting firm thereafter. He pursued his education further and was awarded a Doctorate of Philosophy in Engineering Management in 2005. John loved to make others laugh with his contagious humor and he was often referred to as "the life of the party". A two-time Hawaii Ironman finisher, a Top Gun movie participant, and loving father, John truly was a student of life. Among many things, he will be remembered for his devotion to family, his love for adrenaline rushes, playing racquetball, reading novels, his deep loyalty to his friends, traveling, and so much more. John is remembered by his two children, daughter Nicole Martin-Whiddon (Matthew) of Jacksonville, FL, and his son John "Jack" William Martin III of San Diego, CA, and grandson Liam Whiddon. John is survived by his loving mother C. Jewell Martin, siblings Cheryl Grabicki (Peter) of Spokane WA, Janet Walsh (Daniel) of Beaufort SC, David Martin (Kristy) of Austin, TX, and a host of nieces and nephews. In John's honor, his family has designated Wounded Warrior Project for memorial contributions at www.support.woundedwarriorproject.org Services at Arlington National Cemetery are pending and will be announced at a later date.
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