Lt. Col. Jonathan David Shultz

Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan David Shultz, USAF (Retired), 52, of Huntsville, Alabama, passed away at home surrounded by his wife and three children on August 28, 2025, after a courageous fifteen-month battle with brain cancer. A devoted husband, father, and patriot, Jon's life was defined by his Christian Faith, Love for his Family, and Core Values – Integrity, Service, and Excellence.

Born in Anderson, Indiana, Jon grew up as the son of a pastor and was a "golden boy" in his small town, where he outpaced all the rest academically, excelled in music, and earned a pilot's license. He graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in 1995 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Astronautical Engineering. He later earned a Master of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Alabama in 2006.

Jon served with distinction for 21 years in the United States Air Force and the Alabama Air National Guard (ALANG), retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2016. A command pilot with over 2,400 flying hours, including 423 combat hours across 100 sorties, he earned the Top Gun Award during his F-16 qualification training and went on to serve as a Fighter Pilot, Instructor Pilot, Flight Commander, and Squadron Leader. His combat service spanned Operations Northern Watch, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom. During his one non-flying assignment, Jon became jump qualified and commanded an elite Air Support Operations Flight attached to U.S. Army Special Forces in the immediate aftermath of 9/11.

His decorations reflect his bravery and excellence: the Bronze Star Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Aerial Achievement Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Clusters, the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor Device, and numerous campaign and service medals, including the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, and NATO Medal.

After separating from active duty and entering the ALANG, Jon continued to serve his country in the defense industry, where he worked on some of the nation's most advanced space systems. He also co-founded his own company, Resolution LLC, with his partner Jeff Lower in 2016. The company grew every year, won a prime contract with NASA, and now provides technical services to agencies across the US government in locations worldwide.

Jon's individual contributions, along with those of the Resolution technical team, were instrumental to the successful long-duration missions of the X-37 space plane program. Colleagues cite Jon's engineering genius for space operations.

Jon was deeply committed to the success of Resolution and established values for the company that prioritized its employees. After learning of his illness, Jon undertook detailed planning efforts to ensure the company's continuity. His wife, Mary Scott Hunter, who has worked quietly behind the scenes since Resolution's inception and joined as general counsel in 2019, will carry on his company leadership role following his passing.

Jon's life was marked not only by professional excellence but also by persistent and resilient generosity. He was a committed and faithful tither to every church he attended, as well as a donor to other philanthropic causes. After his diagnosis in May 2024, he participated in a groundbreaking clinical trial at UAB Hospital in Birmingham, courageously undergoing treatment that included the direct injection of a modified virus into his brain in hopes of fighting his cancer or learning how to fight it for others in the future. Even in death, he continued his service by donating his brain to UAB to advance the study of brain tumor research.

Jon is survived by "Team Hunter Shultz" – wife Mary Scott Hunter, son Jonathan Hunter "Nathan" Shultz (21), daughter Annclaire Hunter Shultz (18), and son Caleb Scott Hunter Shultz (17). Jon was truly, deeply, and hopelessly in love with his wife and took the greatest joy in his three children, to whom he was wholly devoted and put first and foremost always. He is also survived by parents Karon and David Shultz, siblings Mimi Klotz and Jodi Klepper, in-laws Deborah and Scott Hunter, and a large extended family who cherished him deeply.

Visitation with the family will be held in the Trinity United Methodist Church Narthex starting at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 6, and a funeral service with full military honors will follow at 4:00 p.m. in the Trinity Sanctuary.

Instead of flowers, Jon and the family ask that you honor his life with a memorial gift to either or both:

O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at UAB - Brain Tumor Research

WTI 210D

1720 2nd Avenue South

Birmingham, Alabama, 35294-3300

*CLICK to donate or by mailed check memo "Jon Shultz Gift for Brain Tumor Research"

Trinity United Methodist Church Foundation

607 Airport Rd SW

Huntsville, AL 35802

*CLICK to donate or by mailed check memo "Jon Shultz Gift for Trinity Foundation"

Jon Shultz lived a life of integrity, service, excellence, generosity, and greatest of all - love. He was a hero in life and even in death, and his legacy will endure in the lives of those he touched.