Leonard Sullivan Jr.

1925 - 2022

SULLIVAN

LEONARD SULLIVAN JR. 1925-2022

Former Pentagon Official

Leonard Sullivan, Jr., age 96, loving husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather, died in Chevy Chase, MD on October 31, 2022, with his wife of 62 years by his side. He was born in New York City to Leonard and Marjorie (Dodd) Sullivan on December 2nd, 1925, and grew up in Cedarhurst, Long Island, NY.

He graduated from St. Paul's School, Concord, NH, in 1943 and subsequently entered M.I.T. in Cambridge, MA. In 1944, he enlisted in the U.S.M.C. and trained as a combat intelligence scout. He spent 9 months in Nagasaki and Sasebo, Japan prior to returning to M.I.T. in 1946. He graduated with three degrees (BS, MS, AE) in 1950 and immediately joined Grumman Aircraft in Bethpage, Long Island. Eventually becoming Director of Advanced Systems, Mr. Sullivan participated in the preliminary design stages of the Rigel sub-launched missile; the Mohawk, Hawkeye, Intruder, and Gulfstream Aircraft, and the NASA Lunar Landing Module.

In 1964, Mr. Sullivan moved to Washington, D.C. His planned 2-year employment with the Department of Defense stretched to 13 years, with ten years in Defense Research & Engineering Directorate under Secretaries McNamara and Laird, and three years as Assistant Secretary, Program Analysis & Evaluation under Secretaries Richardson and Schlessinger. He received several Defense Civilian Service awards and served on the Defense Science Board and President's Scientific Advisory Council.

Moving to the private sector in 1977, Mr. Sullivan worked as a national security consultant for the Rosslyn-based Systems Planning Corporation and the Atlantic Systems Corporation. He was also involved in a multi-year exchange program between the Atlantic Council of the U.S. (under General Andrew Goodpaster) and Moscow's U.S.A. Institute (under Georgy Arbatov) as Mikhail Gorbachev explored ways for 'opening up' the Soviet Union. Additionally, Mr. Sullivan was a member of the Washington Institute for Foreign Affairs, authored two books, and wrote articles for national journals and trade magazines. In the early 1990's he organized and ran a small, internet-based non-profit association, Narpac, dedicated to "Restoring Pride in America's Capital." For 10 years he wrote, photographed and posted monthly articles on all aspects of DC's problems and opportunities.

In retirement Mr. Sullivan spent many years fixing up an early 19th century family property in South Londonderry, Vermont, where he was in his element. He completely remodeled the c.1820 farmhouse and enjoyed maintaining the extensive property.

Mr. Sullivan is survived by his loving family: wife Margo; daughter Dianne; son Jason (Nancy); grandchildren Thomas (Ashley), Sydney, and Colin; and great-grandchildren Harper, Corbin, and Jameson.

Per Mr. Sullivan's wishes there will be no service or memorial. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the USO (www.uso.org) or the Autism Society (www.autism-society.org