Capt. John A. Pasko, USN (Ret.), died on Sept. 7, 2021. He was 64 years old. "JP" was born on Jan. 17, 1957, to Joseph and Clara Pasko. The son of a Baltimore police officer and librarian, JP was raised as a true Maryland native with a keen appreciation for blue crabs and lacrosse.
He was a graduate of Mount Saint Joseph High School, Baltimore, Maryland (1975), where he was the goalkeeper of the championship winning lacrosse team in 1974. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA '79) where he was a member of First Company ("Fun One"), played lacrosse and majored in electrical engineering.
In "Fun One," John was known as a smart and caring classmate and teammate. He was a steady source of support and guidance, many times in the background, because he was always a few steps ahead of everyone around him. After graduation on May 30, 1979, John entered Naval Nuclear Power School in Orlando, Florida. He completed a year and a half of Nuclear Power and Submarine training and then reported to his first boat, USS Tullibee (SSN 597) at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (1981).
Following this tour, he served as 14th company officer at USNA (1984-1986). He subsequently served as engineer officer on USS Richard B. Russell (SSN 687) in Mare Island, California (1986-1990) and then as special projects officer at COMSUBPAC, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (1990-1992). During his SUBPAC tour, he earned his master's in business administration (MBA) from Chaminade University of Hawaii. John reported to USS Kentucky Gold (SSBN 737) as executive officer in Kings Bay (1992) and then to the Naval Nuclear Power Training Unit, Goose Creek, South Carolina (1994) as the officer-in-charge (OIC) of MTS-635.
In 1997, John returned to Kings Bay and assumed command of USS Wyoming Blue (SSBN 742). In 1999, Wyoming was awarded the COMSUBLANT Battle Efficiency "E" Award and the Commander USSTRATCOM's Omaha Trophy as the Navy's premier ballistic missile submarine.
Never one to lose sight of the bigger picture, John deemed the pinnacle of his command tour to lie beyond various awards or achievements. Post-command, he would reflect on his time onboard Wyoming and fondly recall the unified sense of purpose amongst his crew, which set their own standards for professional excellence while also prioritizing military advancement, scholastic achievement and community engagement.
In February 2000, John reported back to the Naval Academy as 6th battalion officer. A year later, he began experiencing minor shortness of breath during his daily runs. That winter, John was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). A mere six months later, John was placed on a ventilator.
He received a life-saving living donor lobar lung transplant on July 9, 2001 at the University of Southern California. Capt. Don Boland, USN (Ret.) '78 and Cmdr. Scott Fever, USN (Ret.), both fellow submariners, each underwent lobectomies — providing John with new lungs and life.
For the next 20 years, John fought hard through numerous health challenges. His incredible determination led to his reinstatement to active duty in 2002. He continued serving at USNA as executive assistant to the superintendent (2002-2005), and director ofofficer development until his retirement from the Navy in October, 2008.
John began his second career in Washington D.C. after joining the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (DNFSB) in 2008 and became the Board's lead for safety oversight of Los Alamos National Laboratory. His unwavering focus on nuclear safety led to significant improvements at the Plutonium Facility, the Weapons Engineering Tritium Facility and Area G. John's exceptional leadership resulted in his selection to the Senior Executive Service. He led by example to improve nuclear safety across the Department of Energy's (DOE) Nuclear Security Enterprise.
Throughout his DNFSB career, John was a steadfast mentor, confidant, and friend to his colleagues. The Board conferred on John their highest award, The Chairman's Medal, recognizing that John's accomplishments reflect great credit upon himself and are in keeping with the highest traditions of the Board, the federal service, and the nation. Upon retirement from DNFSB, John and Shelley, daughter of Capt. Glenn Arthur, USN (Ret.) '55 and his wife Dot, made their home in Kings Bay.
He would want us to thank the countless shipmates, friends, loved ones, and healthcare professionals who helped him overcome his illness and build cherished memories along the way; from walking his daughter down the aisle at the USNA Chapel to meeting his six beloved grandchildren. In addition to his wife, Shelley, survivors include their children, Joey ('05) and Heather Pasko, Drs. Danny and Johanna Pasko, and Jake ('05) and Kaitlyn Keefe; and John's brother Bill and KT Pasko. John and Shelley spent the last six years relishing every available opportunity to spend time with their granddaughters, Isla and Finley Pasko, and grandsons Anson and Lane Pasko and Thayer and Owen Keefe.
A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Nov. 9 at the United States Naval Academy. For more information, contact Shelley Pasko. Those wishing to honor John might consider contributions to scholarship funds at one of the following: 1. Dolphin Scholarship 2. United States Naval Academy 3. Travis Manion Foundation.