Obituary of Dale William Pocklington

Overview

 

On the evening of February 22, 2023 Dale Pocklington of Reston VA passed away at the age of 66. Dale was born to James and Geraldine Pocklington in Illinois in 1956. Dale leaves behind his loving wife Leondra, Adopted Son Allan, Sisters Kathy Kirk, Nancy Hughs and Linda Boyer, and nine nieces and nephews. He was preceded by his parents James and Geraldine Pocklington, Brothers James Jr., and John Pocklington. In keeping with Dale’s wishes he will be cremated and there will be no Service.

 

A message Dale wanted conveyed – “We are all one and I love you all!”

 

Personal Life

 

Dale is the best man his wife has ever known. 

 

He was deeply spiritual and prayed for everyone he came across as well as all the people on the earth.  He knew that we are all connected and belong to God and that God created a perfect world for our karmic growth.  He studied many luminaries including Dr David Hawkins, Edgar Cayce, Ralph Waldo Trine, Ghandi, Deepak Chopra, Jiddu Krishnamurti, Viktor E. Frankl, and many, many more.  He would often say that life is choice.  We get to taste new food, drink beverages we enjoy, have new experiences, enjoy hobbies, and much more.  We manifest our life each day.  We get to choose what we do and how we respond to others.  We can create the here and now.  When we appreciate every moment, we can choose to live a positive life filled with meaning and purpose.  Dale chose well.

 

Dale was engaged, thoughtful and he was generous with his time, energy, and money, mentoring countless individuals and supporting worthy causes.  Many who spent time with Dale walked away a better person for knowing him.  One small example of his generous spirit is when he purchased a parachute jump for a coworker.  While the co-worker did not use the ticket, four of us who heard Dale talk it up, decided to take the jump.  We all had a great time and laughed at each other’s videos. What an amazing experience!  I later recall Dale saying that you when you jump out of a plane you find God right quick.

 

Dale used his sharp intellect to research, analyze, and strategize everything, including health issues, financial state of the world, stocks, politics, and much, much more.  He also strategized which countries had what tools and would have better outcomes.  One of his favorite things was for us to conduct our own research and then compare notes and make decisions.

 

 

Professional Life

 

At age 14, Dale was one of the youngest, 1st Class Radio Telephone License/General Radio Telephone holders in the world.

At age 17, he joined the US Navy.  At age 18, he completed the equivalent to an Electrical Engineering Degree in the US NAVY.

By the time he was 21, Dale had been around the world and was an E-5 Antisubmarine Warfare Technician. He was part of an Aircrew that saved 30 Vietnam refuges drifting in the ocean.  He completed 2,500 hours of Aircrew time in P-3A, B-mod aircraft (acting as an in-flight technician, Radar Operator, and Radio Operator).

In 1979, he cross-rated and went from Antisubmarine Warfare Technician to Electronics Technician.
 

In 1980, he graduated BUD/s (Basic Underwater Demolition/School UDT/SEAL Training) promoted to E-6, completed Army Jump School and UDT/SEAL Basic Indoctrination (SBI) training.  He was awarded US Navy SEAL Trident.

1983-4, Dale put together Pocklington Brothers and Mom's Wish a Gift online stores in the Electronic Mall of Compuserve (Years ahead of Amazon).  These businesses were a success. Problem was relying on partners.

Seal Team Projects: UDT-11 (last of the UDT documented), SEAL TEAM FIVE (plank holder), Seal Delivery Team One, Chief of Naval Operations Dry Deck Shelter Certification Platoon DDS.

At 30 years of age, Dale was granted a waiver by the Chief of Naval Operations to be Commissioned as an Ensign through one of the last Aviation Officer Classes in Pensacola, Florida. He entered the VT-10 Pipeline and was allowed (given his choice) to either go back to P-3s (props) or to go Jets and he chose to go back to P-3s and actually ended up in the same P-3 Squadron he had served in as an enlisted man: Patrol Squadron Four, Barber's Point Hawaii at the time. Years prior, Dale completed a BS in Education.

In the first Gulf War, Dale was a Tacco/Mission Commander and Flew the most COMBAT TIME of any Naval Flight Officer in the Navy in the First Gulf War (271 hours). As such he was directly responsible for the removal of approximately 30 people from this earth. No, he was not proud of removing people from this framework (or earth). That said, in 2005 the US Navy asked him to voluntarily report to Norfolk, VA and he received a plague for being part of the Crew that save 30 refugees that had grown to a group of families numbering over 300 individuals.

In 1991, Dale was originally given orders to Naval Post Graduate School. He had them cancelled so that he could support two of his former bosses - at that time: Admiral Ray Smith (Specwar) and Admiral Norbert Ryan (Aviation).  They needed someone to implement females into High Risk of Capture Training SERE, so he took the job of Officer in Charge of Remote Training site Warner Springs. They gave him a year to implement females and that is what he did. He ran SERE for 3 years. He was an 0-3, and he was asked to hand it off to an Academy graduate who was an 0-4. He completed not one but two
Graduate degrees during this time: Masters in Human Resource Management and a Masters in Health Administration. He did an internship for the HR Masters and initially a Long-Term Care Internship for the MHA.

In 1994-5, Dale was asked by Admiral Ray Smith to return to the Teams. He was at his office in Coronado CA when he asked. He turned him down. Then Admiral Ryan indicated he should stick around past 20 years and do a tour on the USS Kitty Hawk. He reported aboard as the Assistant Combat Direction Officer. There is actually a lot that happened here but long story short, he turned down a promotion to O-4 and taking the Kitty Hawk to Japan and retired officially 1 May 1998.

Dale joined Cardiff Software as a Junior Instructor in late August of 1998, three years later he was promoted to Vice President of Consulting Services. He had done a lot for the company and had literally been around the world for them. When most people thought about the product or company a good many thought of him and he was in many ways a face of the Company for many. He visited nearly every continent. Cardiff had offices on the west coast, the UK and affiliates around the world. The very week he promoted he also
left the company. It was mutual. The President and CEO as well as the Senior Company Engineer and Dale were in a meeting and it became clear he was to be used to facilitate changes to increase revenue but not product advancement. Cardiff had been a major player in data aggregation and collection and he had met people like Bill Gates and others whom at the time seemed normal and smart (not like today). Dale received as a gift Business at the Speed of Thought from the time Cardiff and Microsoft had collaborated.

In 2004, Dale came to the East Coast, he worked as a contractor for several years and then as a government employee for CBP 4 years (and 3 years as CBP contractor) and later for DHS Head Quarters 9.5 years.  He was a Senior GS15 working as a Cyber Security INFOSEC Professional. He was offered the opportunity to go Senior Executive Service, and he turned it down for many reasons.  Dale will be missed.

Message from Dale
We are all one and I love you all...dale