October 9, 1933 – January 9, 2023
Colonel Floyd R. Stuart, USAF (Ret.), died peacefully on January 9, 2023, surrounded by love. A native San Franciscan, Floyd graduated from Saint Ignatius HS in 1951. Floyd attended City College of San Francisco prior to graduating from the US Naval Academy, class of 1957. He married the love of his life, Shirley (nee McVeigh) on June 29, 1957. Commissioned in the US Air Force as a second lieutenant, Floyd completed pilot training, receiving his wings in August 1959. Among his many exceptional years of service, Floyd was a C130 aircraft commander with more than 4500 flying hours. He received a Masters degree in Science – Aeronautics from CalTech in 1962 and the degree of Aeronautical Engineer in 1963. Floyd subsequently taught mathematics and aeronautical engineering at the US Air Force Academy from 1963-67. Floyd did two tours of duty in Viet Nam (67-68); where he earned the Distinguished Flying Cross and Bronze Star with “V” for valor.
From 1969 to 1972, Floyd served as Project Officer with Manned Orbiting Laboratory Program at the Space and Missile Systems Organization (SAMSO) in El Segundo, CA. Subsequently, he was Chief of the Planning Activities Division, Deputy for Development Plans. Following his graduation from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Floyd was a Warning Systems Analyst in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Intelligence at the Pentagon. Floyd returned to SAMSO as Vice Director, Secretary of the Air Force Special Projects and then as Assistant Deputy Commander for Space Operations, Headquarters Space Division, Los Angeles Air Force Station.
In what he described as the best job ever, Floyd assumed command of the Air Force Satellite Control Facility in March 1982 and served through his retirement in May 1985. In this role, he was responsible for a worldwide satellite control network providing support services to Department of Defense Spacecraft.
Entering civilian life, Floyd joined Hughes Communications Inc. (HCI) with responsibility for Launch Vehicle Acquisition and Support Services. Floyd and Shirley spent 3 wonderful years in Tokyo, Japan, while Floyd was Senior Managing Director and COO of Japan Communications Satellite Co. (JCSAT), Japan’s first commercial satellite communications company and a joint venture with HCI. Upon returning to CA, Floyd was Vice President of Operations with HCI until his retirement.
Floyd was predeceased by Shirley in 2019, but she remained central to his life as he always wore their wedding bands around his neck. Floyd is survived by his 4 children, 9 grandchildren, and 4 great-grandchildren.
