John Robert Hilliard
John Robert Hilliard
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John Hilliard Obituary
Born in Morgantown, WV on May 8, 1938, John was preceded in death by his parents Lt Col Robert C. and Geneva Hilliard, sister MaryJo Hilliard, son Steven C. Hilliard, and daughter Cheryl L. Lambert and her husband Scott.
John attended 17 schools as a military dependent living in South Carolina, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Germany, Louisiana, and Ohio. He came to Brevard County in 1953 from Akron, Ohio with his family. His father, Lieutenant Colonel Robert C. Hilliard, USAF, was assigned to Patrick AFB. John was a 1956 graduate of Cocoa High School and a 1960 graduate of Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia graduating with a BS in Electrical Engineering. He obtained his Master of Science Degree in Aerospace Management from the University of Southern California in 1966.
Col. Hilliard served over 23 years in the Air Force before retiring in 1983 at Andrews AFB, MD. He had extensive experience in the management of space and missile programs. He was a long-time member of the intelligence community, concentrating on scientific and technical intelligence, collection management, and international negotiations. His assignments included tours at F. E. Warren
AFB, WY as an Atlas E Missile Combat Crew Commander; Vandenberg AFB, CA. as a Space Test Conductor for the Thor-Agena/Atlas Agena/Thor-Delta; Eastern Kodak, Rochester, NY (Monitoring the construction of National Reconnaissance Organization photo reconnaissance satellites); the Pentagon and Andrews AFB, MD (Intelligence Officer); Chairman of Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) Weapon and Space Systems (WSSIC) Space Subcommitee. Finally, in the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), he had firsthand experience in negotiations of the Strategic Armed Limitation Treaty (SALT) with the Soviet Union in Geneva, Switzerland. After retiring from the Air Force, he spent 12 years at ANSER Inc. He retired from ANSER as Vice-President for Aerospace Systems in 1995. He moved back to Brevard County in 1998, living in Satellite Beach.
He was a lifetime member of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers (past Chapter Chairman); National Military Intelligence Association; Association of Air Force Missileers; Air Force Association; VMI Keydet Club; Secretary of the Air Force, Office of Special Projects (SAFSP) Alumni Association; Military Officers Association of America; Cape Canaveral Space Force Museum & Sands History Center Volunteer Association (past Chairman); and was a tour guide for Public Affairs and Protocol offices at Patrick Space Force Base. He was a media escort providing coverage of Cape Canaveral SFS for launches and as a Volunteer for Space Launch Delta 45th Public Affairs Office as well as a Volunteer at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Museum; The Military Order of the World Wars (past Chapter Commander), the
Space, Missile and Range Pioneers (Director) and as past President of the Moorings Homeowner Association.
He had a unique collection of information and photos of the United States space & missile programs including description of the Launch Complexes/sites, photos of most of the launches from Cape Canaveral SFS and Vandenberg SFB missile/rocket launches & write up/photos of over 750 missile/space systems. These items will be given to the Space Force/Air Force.
Survivors include his wife of 35 years Linda Ann (Lin) Hilliard of Satellite Beach, FL, five children; son Jeffrey S. Hilliard and wife Chris (TX), and grandchildren Carissa (NY), Zachary (TX) and Griffin and wife Cassie (NC), grandson Ryan Lambert and wife Allison and great grandson Garrett (MD), son John C. Hilliard and wife Jennifer and grandson John J. (MD), daughter Sharon Fowler and husband Michael (NC) and grandchildren Ashley Davis (husband Brad) and great granddaughter Aubrey (NC), granddaughter Brittany O'Banion and great granddaughters Tara and Evelynne Marlowe (CO), and grandson Daylon King (NC).
A Celebration of Life will be held at 11am on October 10th at Beach Funeral Home, Indian Harbour Beach, FL. Burial will be in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA.
John had a special love for their poodles and participated with Lin in poodle rescue. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to Coastal Poodle Rescue, P. O. Box
121142, Melbourne, FL 32912 or via the Rescue website at www.coastalpoodlerescue.org.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
5 Entries
Jamie Draper
October 10, 2025
Today I joined friends and colleagues to celebrate the life of John Hilliard, who recently passed at 87. For more than two decades, John was a dedicated volunteer at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Museum (formerly the Air Force Space & Missile Museum). His steady presence and warm spirit are already deeply missed.
John´s life reflected honor and service. A 1960 graduate of VMI, he served 23 years in the U.S. Air Force as a missile commander, intelligence officer, and arms control negotiator, retiring as a lieutenant colonel in 1983. He continued another 12 years in the aerospace industry.
I first met John in 2019 when he gave me my inaugural tour of the Cape. His passion for its history was contagious and helped convince me to take the helm as museum director. I soon counted him among my "Grand Triumvirate" (John, Jim Hale, and Roger McCormick) of museum knowledge. His meticulous research and willingness to share it shaped exhibits, tours, and countless conversations.
I will miss John´s company at Fly-In and Rickety Rocketeer breakfasts; Missile, Space and Pioneer banquets; museum volunteer meetings; and quiet hours in the archives digging for that elusive launch photo. I will miss his DV tours and historical briefings. Most of all, I will miss his smile and the wisdom he carried so effortlessly. I´m grateful he joined us to celebrate 75 years of launch this summer. RIP, John.
Jamie Draper
Museum Director
Deborah Allison
October 8, 2025
John. I will always remember you for your kindness and support. You took me under your wing, encouraging me and and teaching me something new every time we met. I miss my morning doughnut on the days you had duty. I will think of you every time I see a rocket launch - those were the best of times for me. Rest in peace.
Jim Hale
September 23, 2025
Though born 9 years apart, we shared the same birthday and hairstyle. I'm going to miss sharing annual happy birthday emails. You must have stayed up until midnight to get yours out first. You always shared your knowledge of missile programs and that let me share the information with others. I will miss standing out at the press site at 1AM on a cold winter morning waiting through a 3 hour launch window but I wouldn't trade it for anything. Thanks for the past 20 years of friendship, John. It was fun and you made it so.
Randal Coppola
September 22, 2025
Here's John with Chris Calkins' "Good Guys" - Mark Heibert and Jim Hale and myself. John and Jim showed me the ropes on being a Media escort back in 2014 and was a great friend to have, many nice memories. Such days these were. His lasting advice, "Whatever you do, be the best at it. The rest will come!"
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Heidi Hunt
September 15, 2025
We are deeply saddened by the loss of John Hilliard. He was always the first to step up, always willing to give his time and energy in service to others. His support was unmatched and will never be forgotten. John was not only a dedicated volunteer, but also a friend, a veteran, and so much more. His presence brought strength and kindness to everyone around him. He will be deeply missed.
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