MAJ. Richard "Rick" Rogers

Richard Dana Rogers, a longtime resident of Pace, FL, passed away on September 13, 2025, at the age of 73. He was surrounded by his loving family at Santa Rosa Hospital.
Rick was born on January 24, 1952, at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, to Milton Bardstown Rogers and Edith Ruth (McClinton) Rogers. Both of his parents served in the Marine Corps, and by the time Rick began school, the family had settled in St. Louis, MO. He graduated from Ritenour High School in 1970 and attended the University of Missouri-St. Louis for two years before beginning Officer Candidate School in Quantico, Virginia.
On December 29, 1973, Rick married his beloved wife, Debra Gamache Rogers. Together, they built a loving home and shared 51 years of marriage. In 1974, Rick began flight training in Pensacola, FL, and upon completion chose to pilot CH-53 helicopters. He returned to Milton, Florida, to serve as a Flight Instructor at NAS Whiting Field, and while there earned his Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences Interdisciplinary Studies at the University of West Florida.
Rick served proudly in the United States Marine Corps for 20 years. He was a veteran of Operation Desert Shield/Storm as a heavy transport helicopter pilot (CH-53E). He served as a Flight Leader, Mission Commander, and Executive Officer of Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron HMH-465. During Desert Storm, he flew over 150 combat sorties and was awarded three Air Medals.
He was an Honor Graduate of the Defense Systems Management College at Ft. Belvoir, Virginia, and later served as the Tactical Surveillance & Reconnaissance Systems Coordinator for the Unmanned Air Vehicle (UAV) Project Office at the Naval Air Systems Command in Washington, D.C. One of the programs he helped manage would later evolve into the Predator/Reaper drone program. Rick was also the first American-and one of only three total-ever designated as a UAV Mission Commander by the Israeli Defense Forces Intelligence Corps.
Rick retired from the Marine Corps in 1993 at the rank of Major and settled in Pace, Florida. He was asked to start and lead the NJROTC program at Pace High School, where he served for five years. He then began his second career in aviation, working in the commercial helicopter industry along the U.S. Gulf Coast as a Line Pilot, Lead Pilot, Base Manager, and Area Manager. He later became Director of Operations and then General Manager and Director of Flight Operations for Bristow's Alaska business unit before returning to Pace following his second retirement.
Rick will be remembered for his love of family and his gift for making friends feel like family. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, shooting sports, barbershop singing, traveling and cruising with Deb, riding motorcycles, fast cars, BBQ and sous vide cooking. He was known for his great sense of humor and his habit of quoting movie lines at just the right moment. At home, he loved feeding the local deer and watching nature in the yard. Passionate about conservation, he served on the board of Save Blackwater River to protect the river quality of Northwest Florida.
Rick was also deeply committed to his faith. He was an active member of Olive Baptist Church, where he taught Sunday School for nearly ten years.

Known as the class "IT guy," he later served on the church's Security Team. Most recently, he obtained his FAA Commercial Drone License and operated Olive Baptist's parking lot security drone, blending his love of aviation with service to his church.
Rick was preceded in death by his parents and his half-siblings, Milton B. Rogers Jr. and RuthAnn Kelly. He is survived by his wife, Deb; daughter, Marty (Eric) Cunningham; son, Tim (Brittany) Rogers; four grandsons, Austin Cunningham, Mason (AvaGrace) Cunningham, Connor Rogers, and Ryder Rogers; and many extended family members and friends.
Visitation will be held on Monday, September 29, 2025, from 10:00-11:00 a.m. in the main sanctuary of Olive Baptist Church, 1836 E. Olive Rd., Pensacola, Florida 32514, followed by a Celebration of Life service at 11:00 a.m. A reception for the family will follow, hosted by Rick's Senior Adult Class.
A private family interment will be held at a later date at Barrancas National Cemetery, NAS Pensacola.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Olive Baptist Church for the Crossroads Young Adult program, "Leading the next generation to stand for the Lord."

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