Obituary of Wayne Randall Broadwater

Wayne Randall Broadwater, PhD (Major, Ret. USAF)

May 25, 1947 - May 16, 2020
Wayne Randall Broadwater, age 72 of Herndon, VA passed away on Saturday, May 16, 2020 at Reston Hospital Center in Reston, VA from complications of Stage 4 non-small cell adenocarcinoma. Wayne, who went by Randy with family and friends, was born on May 25, 1947 in Cumberland, MD to Herbert Lee Broadwater and Doris Francis (Dawson) Broadwater. Randy was the eldest of four siblings, with two sisters, Leslie and Marcy, and one brother Steve. Randy grew up in MD, and as a teenager, enjoyed being involved with his local Boy Scout Troop, mastering the skills required to become an Eagle Scout. The Boy Scouts played an integral role in his love of the outdoors and taught him many skills early on in life. Randy met his childhood sweetheart, Margaret Irwin, on the playground in 7th grade in 1959. They both graduated from Arundel High School in Anne Arundel County, MD in 1965. They were later married on March 12, 1967, and had two children, Cecillia and Wayne Jr. They celebrated 53 years of marriage in March of 2020.
After high school, Randy enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1966. His military career led him to various duty stations both in the continental U.S. and overseas. After basic training and electronics school, his first assignment was with the Communications Squadron at Hamilton AFB, CA from 1967-1968. From there he was stationed at Goodfellow AFB, San Angelo, TX in 1968 with the Security Service. During the Vietnam War he served in Thailand and Laos from 1968-1969, attending linguistic school to become a translator. From there he served in Vietnam between 1969-1970, and his permanent duty station while on Reconnaissance Flying Status was at Kadena AB, Okinawa, Japan from 1970-1975. He returned stateside and was assigned to Keesler AFB, Biloxi, MS from 1975-1979. While assigned to Keesler AB, he was accepted into the Airmen Education and Commissioning Program and attended the USAF Air Training Command Officer Basic Military Training Pre-commissioning Officer Training School (OTS) at Lackland AFB, TX in April 1978. During this time, Randy also completed his Bachelor of Science degree from William Carey College in Hattiesburg, MS with honors in 1978. He was given the honor of Kappa Mu Epsilon in 1977 by the Mathematics Honor Society, Mississippi Delta Chapter and received recognition by the Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges for Outstanding Merit and Accomplishment by William Carey College in 1977-1978. After becoming a Commissioned Officer in 1978, at the rank of 2nd Lieutenant, Randy was transferred to Tinker AFB, Oklahoma City, OK, where he served as Data Information Manager from 1979-1982. During April 1980, he was promoted to the rank of 1st Lieutenant, and was selected for and completed Squadron Officer School (SOS) in 1981. In the summer of 1982, as a Captain, Randy was assigned to teach at the United States Air Force Academy

(USAFA) Preparatory School as a Mathematics Instructor from 1982-1986. Randy received his Master of Arts in Computer Data Management in 1985 from Webster University. He then attended the Marine Command and Staff College in 1986, and was assigned to Langley AFB in Hampton, VA, from 1986-1990, where he was promoted to his final rank. His last military assignment was with the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) from 1990-1992 at the Pentagon, in Washington, D.C.
After serving his country for more than 26 years, Randy retired as a Major from the U.S. Air Force with numerous distinguishing awards and medals, including: The Meritorious Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters; Joint Meritorious Unit Award; Air Medal with one Silver Oak Leaf Cluster; Air Force Commendation Medal; Distinguished-Presidential Unit Citation; Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor Device and two Oak Leaf Clusters; Air Force Organizational Excellence Award; Air Force Good Conduct Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters; National Defense Service Medal with one Bronze Star; Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Vietnam); Vietnam Service Medal with one Silver plus three Bronze Stars; Humanitarian Service Medal; Air Force Overseas Short Tour Ribbon; Air Force Overseas Long Tour Ribbon; Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon with one Silver Oak Leaf Cluster; Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon; Air Force Training Ribbon with one Oak Leaf Cluster; Philippine Presidential Unit Citation; Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Device; Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.
After his military retirement, his career transitioned to the civilian sector, and he was employed by several Government Subcontractors, including Paloma Systems, in Fairfax, VA, DynCorp, in McLean, VA, and Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC) in Alexandria, VA. He retired from CSC in 2010 as an Information Technology Consultant. Before retiring permanently from the civilian workforce, Randy was responsible for overseeing and designing the new Pentagon Data Network after the 9-11 tragedy and received accolades for his work.
Randy always enjoyed learning, and continued to challenge himself throughout life with higher education. He went on to obtain a PhD in Computer Sciences, Management Information Systems from Kennedy Western University. Randy was multilingual and spoke 12 languages, including English, French, Spanish, Thai, Laotian, Vietnamese, and 5 dialects of Chinese. At age 71, he was teaching himself Farsi, so he could communicate with his new Persian neighbors. Randy was outgoing and social, enjoyed wine tasting, traveling the world via transatlantic cruises, and he loved to sail his 36 foot Hunter sailboat. He was loved, respected and admired by many, and will be sorely missed.

Randy is survived by his wife Margaret; 2 children, Cecillia (Broadwater) Patrick and Wayne Broadwater, Jr.; 2 grandchildren, Amanda Patrick Tinsley and Hannah Broadwater; 2 great-grandchildren, Layla Tinsley and Liam Tinsley; 3 siblings, Helen Leslie Lotter, Stephen Broadwater, and Marcellene Sue Patton; nephews Bob Bell, Brian Broadwater, Jason Broadwater, and great nephew Cory Kamins; nieces Elizabeth Estrella, Janet Neighoff, Amber Broadwater, and Amy Broadwater, as well as numerous great nephews and nieces, cousins, aunts and uncles. He is predeceased by his parents Herbert and Doris Broadwater, and his niece Lisa Broadwater Kamins Hall. A graveside service with full military honors is expected to take place at Arlington National Cemetery.