It is with great sadness but with a near lifetime of fond memories that we at ASI acknowledge the passing of our great friend and partner, Ron Wagner. Ron passed away June 7 while in Key West on a vacation celebrating his 50th Anniversary with his wife Mimi.
Mimi graciously provided the following Obituary:
“Ron” was born on the Ides of March in Arizona in 1952. He spent his youth with his parents, Bob and Edna, and twin sisters, Sherri and Terri, in Roswell, New Mexico. He was appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy class of ’74, where he received a Bachelor of Science. Ron married Mimi the day after graduation at the Naval Academy Chapel.
Upon graduation, he attended the Aviation Maintenance School in Memphis, TN. He then served with the VA105 “Gunslingers” in Jacksonville, FL, where he was awarded Sailor of the Year. He went on to attend the Naval Postgraduate School, where he earned a Master of Science in Management in 1979.
Upon graduation, Ron was appointed Aide to Admiral Fred Baughman in Point Mugu, CA. He then reported to the USS Enterprise. Ron served on the USS John F. Kennedy, USS Frank D. Roosevelt, and USS Saratoga throughout his career. Most notably, Ron served as the Aviation Maintenance Officer aboard the Saratoga during Operation Desert Storm/Shield. He was the Assistant Program Manager for Logistics for the T-45 Goshawk jet trainer, still used to train the Navy and Marine Corps. Pilots today. Captain Wagner retired as Director of Industrial Operations of Naval Air Systems Command in 1996.
Ron was the first recipient of the distinguished Captain Virgil Lemon Award for Naval Aviation Maintenance Excellence.
Ron was a gifted storyteller who often crafted the most entertaining tales of his fantastic Naval exploits, which could neither be “confirmed nor denied.” He loved sharing sea stories, playing pool with his family, and listening to the music of his youth. He is survived by his wife Mimi, daughter Brienne and husband Bill, daughter Jillian and husband Lee, and daughter Megan and husband Manak, as well as four beloved grandchildren, Noelle, Greyson, Willa, and Diana.
A memorial service will be held for Captain Wagner at the Naval Academy Chapel followed by inurnment at USNA Columbarium on November 4th, 2024.
For those of us who called him a friend and partner at ASI, Ron was a true visionary who led us into many new things, including managing one of our first contracts supporting PMA-273 and the T-45 aircraft. He played a primary role in bringing us into the F-35 Program, a relationship that continues flourishing and is a cornerstone of work today. He was a selfless and loyal friend to all of us at ASI and would come to our aid at a moment’s notice. He was extremely proud of his US Navy Service and, as noted above, a great storyteller, with many of those stories providing great “lessons learned” for our work today. Many of us at ASI have known and worked with Ron for decades.
Along with his many stories to tell, he had many words of wisdom that could be summed up in a short saying. A couple of those include one of Ron’s favorite sayings when he didn’t quite agree with you, or sometimes just joking around, would say, “I’m behind you 30%”. Other times, when he perceived someone may not be looking out for everyone or not addressing every angle of a problem, he might mockingly say, “Pull the ladder up. I’m aboard!” Lastly, he would often refer to the old days when “ships were wood and men were iron.” He probably wouldn’t admit it, but he was one of those “iron men.” Although the body was a bit rusty at the end, Ron’s vision and drive to do great things continued to be as sharp as finely honed steel.
Ron, we are always one hundred percent behind you! Rest in peace, Friend and Shipmate. We have the watch.