David M. Stone

CLARENDON, Va. – David M. Stone, RADM, retired, 57, of Clarendon, Va., and formerly of Algonquin, died Monday, Nov. 23, 2009, at his home.

He was born July 13, 1952, in Elgin, to the late David G. and Peggy P. Stone. He was raised in Algonquin and was a 1970 graduate of Irving Crown High School in Carpentersville, where he was elected class president and was an all-state basketball player. While attending the U.S. Naval Academy, he lettered in basketball for three seasons. In August 2005, he was inducted into the Irving Crown High School Athletic Hall Of Fame.

David was a recognized expert in the fields of National Defense and Homeland Security and most recently was the president, safety and security for Smart and Connected Communities, Cisco Globalization Office. A retired rear admiral, U.S. Navy, he served on several private and public company boards of directors including the board of Smith and Wesson Corp.

He was a former assistant secretary of Homeland Security for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), having been nominated by former President George W. Bush and unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate. As the assistant secretary, he was responsible for the security of the U.S. Transportation System, which includes the mass transit, rail, highway, pipeline, maritime and aviation modes of transportation. Overseeing a budget of more than $5.6 billion and leading more than 54,000 personnel, he took on what many described as the "toughest job in government today."

As the leader of the TSA for more than 18 months until June 2005, he was the longest serving administrator in the organization's history. While leading TSA, he was instrumental in: effectively deterring terrorist attacks against the U.S. Transportation System; aggressively promoting growth and increased access within the U.S. Transportation System; and preserving our freedoms and privacy while instituting appropriate transportation security risk mitigation measures.

Before his assignment to TSA headquarters, he served from 2002 to 2003 as the TSA's first federal security director at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), one of the largest and busiest airports in the world. There, he established the post-Sept. 11, 2001, security standards required by law. During the assignment, he led the local effort to mobilize, train, and deploy the largest federalized screener work force in the United States, a monumental effort completed two weeks before the required deadline. The airport also implemented the 100 percent electronic checked-baggage screening program, screening more than 150,000 items a day.

Throughout his professional career, he was known to take on the toughest assignments and achieve impressive transformational results. Often, he was the first person to hold a particular position, new idea or concept and from that built a lasting and meaningful organization. His commitment to excellence, unquestionable integrity, and character-based leadership style are well-known to those with whom and for whom he served.

As a 28-year career naval officer, he served with great distinction, achieving the rank of Rear Admiral and retiring from active duty in April 2002. He began his naval career in 1974 as a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree. He also holds a Master of Science in management from Salve Regina College; a Master of Arts in national security and strategic studies from the Naval War College in Newport, R.I.; and a Master of Arts in national security affairs from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School.

His subspecialty during his Navy/Department of Defense career was in the field of intelligence. As a senior officer, he served as the first commander Destroyer Squadron Fifty/commander Middle East Force, home ported in Manama, Bahrain, and later served as Chief of Staff to Commander, Sixth Fleet in Gaeta, Italy. Upon promotion to rear admiral, he served as the commander of NATO's Standing Naval Force Mediterranean during operations in the Adriatic in support of the Kosovo conflict.

Other significant assignments included tours in the Pentagon on the staff of the chief of naval operations as deputy director of surface warfare, and later as director, Environmental Protection, Safety, and Occupational Health. His last operational command in the Navy was the Nimitz Battle group, where he was responsible for organizing, training, and equipping the sailors assigned for deployment.

Survivors include his devoted wife of 32 years, Cynthia Faith Voth; his brother, Scott (Roberta) Stone of Elgin; and his sisters, Peggy (John) Schwartz of Algonquin and Debra (Richard) Busic of Glenview. He also is survived by his nieces and nephews, all whom he loved and was very proud of, as well as many good and faithful friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and his sister, Mary Lynn Stone.

A memorial service celebrating his life and accomplishments will be at 1 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 21, in the Dundee Crown High School Auditorium, 1500 Kings Road, Carpentersville. Burial with full military honors will be Wednesday, May 26, in Arlington National Cemetery, Washington, D.C.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Admiral David M. Stone Scholarship c/o The Dundee Crown Athletic Hall Of Fame, 1500 Kings Road, Carpentersville, IL 60110.

For information, call Miller Funeral Home, West Dundee, at 847-426-3436.