Joseph T. Kammerer

Joseph T. Kammerer, former Deputy Assistant Secretary, United States Air Force, passed away peacefully on February 17, 2026 at Inova Hospital, Fairfax, Virginia after suffering complications from a fall.

Joe was born in Washington, D.C., the son of Edward F. Kammerer and Ellen Virginia Giordano. He and his twin, John P. Kammerer, (deceased), were members of a family of six children. Joe and John began their early careers serving 350 Evening Star papers each day from their wagons in the Brookland area of Washington. He attended Bunker Hill Elementary School where he and John perfected The Sword Dance performed on stage at the Watergate Pavilion. Joe and John learned Latin in the second grade in order to become altar boys and Joe was an altar boy all his life. Later, attending Archbishop John Carroll High School in Washington, Joe became an athlete becoming captain of the championship football team, receiving a trophy from his baseball coach for outstanding play and spirit. He was also a varsity basketball player; Joe was inducted into his high school's Athletic Hall of Fame in 2008. An avid sportsman all his life, Joe was singles tennis champion, Town of Vienna, Va., and won a gold medal in the Nastar Ski races at Brian Head, Colorado. He later enjoyed golf with his brother, son and daughter-in-law, Eric and Jenny, and grandson, Riley. He participated in the first Cherry Blossom Marathon race.

Joe won a Navy scholarship to attend the University of Maryland Engineering School graduating in 1961. He began his Civil Service career designing ships and submarines, later receiving an MS in Engineering from the University of Maryland. He completed all but dissertation for the Ph.D. at Catholic University, subsequently receiving an MS in Operations Research at the University of Rochester. He helped to establish the Navy's Cost Analysis program, becoming Deputy Assistant Secretary, Department of Defense. Joe was a charter member of the Senior Executive Service and was awarded the Presidential Meritorious Rank medal by President George H.W. Bush in 2002 for outstanding performance for the Air Force.

In the private sector, Joe was Vice President, Chief Financial Officer of McDonnell Douglas Astronautics Company in St. Louis, Missouri, and later, the McDonnell Douglas Electronics Company.

Joe's many interests and accomplishments included being an Eagle Scout. His avocation of singing started in grade school when his quartet won honors on a local TV show. He helped to found and served on the boards of the New Dominion Chorale and the National Men's Chorus both of which performed in the Washington area. He was often heard singing at "open mic"

piano bars in Vienna, Falls Church and Alexandria. Joe lent his voice to Vinson Voices at Vinson Hall Retirement Community where he was known for his kindness and his dancing. He was an avid photographer winning ribbons for his outstanding work.

Joe contributed to every community he lived in and was President of the Tamarack Triangle Civic Association, the Twin Farms Swim and Tennis Club in Silver Spring, Md. and the Fairfax County Spring Lake Association in Vienna, Va. As Vice Chairman of the McDonnell Douglas Charitable Fund in St. Louis, Joe focused his attention on the homeless, and for 35 years Joe could be found in the kitchen on the second Saturday of every month cooking for and serving the needy at Christ House in Alexandria, Va.

Joe leaves behind his beloved wife of 65 years, Maureen Kane Kammerer, his children Eric J. Kammerer and daughter-in-law, Jenny, of Charlotte, N.C., Michelle FauntLeRoy and son-in-law John FauntLeRoy, of Annapolis, Md., six grandchildren, Riley Kammerer, Emily Kammerer, Abby Kammerer, Liza Kammerer, Lily FauntLeRoy, Nora FauntLeRoy, his sister, Margaret Combs, several nieces and nephews and many friends.

Funeral Mass and burial will take place April 9 at 12:00 Noon, St. Mark Catholic Church, 9970 Vale Rd, Vienna, Va. 22181. Visitation at 11:00 a.m.

Memorial donations may be made to Archbishop Carroll High School Scholarship Fund, 4300 Harewood Road, NE, Washington, DC 20017, and New Dominion Chorale, P.O. Box 6691, McLean, VA 22101