Stephen Kent Chadwick

CHADWICK

STEPHEN KENT CHADWICK

Stephen Kent Chadwick was born November 1, 1938, in Birmingham, AL. He graduated from Phillips High School and enlisted (with parental permission because he was 17) in the Marine Corps the following day. After a summer spent at bootcamp at Parris Island, SC, he attended Birmingham Southern College. Steve received an appointment to the Naval Academy and was commissioned into the Navy with the Class of 1962.

Steve met his future wife, Maureen Burke, on a blind date in October of 1961 and they were married in Upper Nyack, NY on May 2, 1964. They were blessed with three children: Elizabeth Chadwick Kasemsri and Dr. Tiva, Robert B. Chadwick II RDML (Ret.) and wife Sandra and Dr. Jonathan L. Chadwick CDR USN (Ret.) and wife Kristina. And nine grandchildren: Caroline K. Webb and husband Tyler, Jacqueline and Camille Kasemsri; Allison and Carolyn Chadwick; Connor, Caden, Cullen and Sadie Grace Chadwick.

From Ensign to Commander, Steve filled a variety of assignments at sea in propulsion and combat systems. During that time frame, he commanded two Navy warships and a combat advisory group in the Republic of Viet Nam. He also earned a Master of Science Degree in Materials Management at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA. As a Navy Captain, Steve commanded a Tactical Destroyer Squadron of up to 15 ships in the Atlantic and Sixth Fleet (Mediterranean) operations. He was also responsible for the in-port Navy wide training of home-ported ships of the Atlantic Fleet and of all personnel involved in mine counter measures warfare.

Steve returned to Annapolis for duty as the 71st Commandant of Midshipmen where he was selected for Flag Rank. There he was responsible for the professional and ethical development of the 4500-member Brigade of Midshipmen. After a year as the Head Detailer at the Bureau of Naval Personnel, he assumed command of Navy Region Hawaii and all surface ships assigned to the Mid-Pacific Group.

When he transferred to the retired list in 1990, he began his civilian career as Chief Operating Officer of Prodesco Inc., a Pennsylvania technology company that designs and manufactures textile-based components for the chemical and aerospace industries. Under his leadership, Prodesco established a wholly owned subsidiary, Secant Medical LLC, to provide textile-based components for human implantation in the medical device industry. In 2008, he guided the sale of Prodesco and Secant Medical to Fenner PLC. At the request of the new owners, he remained as CEO of both companies until his second retirement in February of 2013. During that period, he received an honorary Doctor of Letters from Delaware Valley University.

He continued his mission of service on the board of many not-for-profit organizations including: the Naval Academy Athletic & Scholarship Foundation, Doylestown Hospital Foundation, Heritage Conservancy, Pearl S. Buck International, 1st LT Travis Manion Foundation, All Saints Episcopal School Board of Trustees and as a court appointed special advocate for children at C.A.S.A. of the South Plains. For five years he was President of the Naval Academy Class of 1962.

He and Maureen moved to Lubbock, TX in 2016 to be near family. He passed away on January 18, 2024, after a valiant three-year battle with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. The family is so grateful to the staff at Joe Arrington Cancer Center and the Palliative Care Team.

There will be a visitation at Lake Ridge Chapel and Memorial Designers on Thursday, January 25 from 6 until 8 p.m. The funeral service will be held at the Naval Academy Chapel at 10:30 a.m. on May 10 followed by burial at the Naval Academy Cemetery. Please visit www.memorialdesigners.net for floral purchasing and an area to share stories of Stephen Chadwick with his family.