Col. Richard "Dick" Peter Van Rees (Ret.)

Richard (Dick) Peter Van Rees, a longtime resident of Niceville, FL, passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, April 13, 2024. Richard was born on May 27, 1946, to Patricia M. Van Rees and Richard C. Van Rees in Long Island, N.Y. After graduating from Syosset High School where he excelled in both academics and sports, he attended Colgate University in Hamilton, N.Y. He was a collegiate athlete and a standout ice hockey goalie for the Colgate Raiders, he was also a proud member and Treasurer of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. Dick earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from Colgate in 1968, and went on to earn a Master’s Degree in Aviation Management and Business Administration from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

Following his distinguished graduation in 1968 from both the Marine Corps Command and Staff (National Security and Management Studies) and the Industrial College of the Air Force, Dick received his commission in the Air Force and served as a Fighter Pilot (callsign “Doctor Dot”) for 26 years, Ops and Wing Commanders for 2 years, and was stationed at over 12 bases across the United States and Europe.

Ultimately attaining the rank of Colonel, he served at all levels of command including squadron, group, and wing levels, and he amassed over 4000+ hours of flying F-4s, F-5s (Aggressor), and the F-15 A/C/E aircraft. In the 1980s, he served as Instructor Pilot, Flight Examiner, and Operational Test Pilot where he directed two joint test and evaluations chartered by the office of the U.S. Secretary of Defense. Dick served as the Director of Operations of both the Eleventh Air Force (11AF) and the Alaska NORAD Region, and he was selected twice to serve as the Joint Test Director/Commander in the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD).

After retiring from the Air Force after 28 years, Dick worked for FedEx Corp., The Boeing Company, Sverdup Corp., SRC, and Northrup Grumman. At Northrup Grumman, he was the corporate lead executive in the greater Fort Walton Beach area, and he served as the principal contact for all business in the region.

Dick was preceded in death by his father Richard, his mother Patricia and his brother Peter.  He leaves behind his spouse, Judith Van Rees, his two daughters, Tracy Elizabeth and Kelly Patricia, his son, Richard Peter, his grandchildren, Bailey and James; along with his extended family and partner, Ms. Jerri Case Hale, Jeremy Bye (m. Dawn), Jason Bye (m. Gretchen), Catherine Bye and his grandchildren, Haidyn, Garrettson, Fia, Tegan, and Remy.

In his retirement, Dick loved traveling, fishing, boating, playing weekly golf with his buddies, watching his grandchildren play sports or perform on stage, reading non-fiction and historical novels, being a forever-faithful fan of the New York Rangers, Giants, and Yankees, and spending time with family and friends. He was a kind, loving, and generous son, father, grandfather, brother, and friend, loved by all who knew him, and he will be greatly missed.

Service will be at the Heritage Gardens in Niceville on April 25, 2024, with a viewing at 10 and service to follow at 1030am. The interment will be at Barrancas National Cemetery at Naval Air Station Pensacola at 2 pm.

Memorials in his name may be made to Tunnels to Towers Foundation or the Wounded Warrior Foundation.

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