Obituary of James Paul Wade

Dr. James Paul Wade, Jr passed away on Tuesday, March 21, 2017. Dr. Wade, was born December 26, 1930 in Richmond Heights, Missouri. He graduated Saint Louis University High School in 1948 and from the United States Military Academy (B.S., 1953) and the University of Virginia (M.S., 1959; Ph.D., 1961). He served in a variety of airborne infantry command and staff positions while in active duty until 1968 when he joined the Department of Defense and continued in the reserves until 1998. From 1968 through 1986 he held various positions in the Department of Defense under presidents Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter and Reagan, having served as Assistant Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Logistics, Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Development and Support, Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Atomic Energy, Director of Net Technical Assessment and Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Policy Planning and National Security Council Affairs, and Vice Chairman of the Defense Science Board. Of particular note, from 1974-1977 he served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Policy Plans and National Security Council Affairs and during this time also served as the Director of the Department of Defense Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) Task Force. After his time at the DOD, in 1986, Dr. Wade founded Defense Group Incorporated and served as its President, Chairman and CEO. In 2003, working with the United States National Defense University Institute for National Strategic Studies he co-authored Shock & Awe, an influential book on modern military strategy. He is survived by his wife, Louise Sheppard, 3 sons, James, Joshua and Matthew and was proudest of his 4 grandchildren, Seamus, Owen, Finbar and Abigail. A visitation is scheduled for 5pm to 8pm this Friday, March 24th at Adams-Green Funeral Home at 721 Elden Street, Herndon, Virginia. Funeral services are to be determined. In lieu of flowers, Memorial contributions are suggested to Doctors Without Borders or The National Humane Society. Please select the donations tab for additional information.