Jackie Lee Roberts
June 16, 1944 - December 3, 2025

We were recently informed of the passing of Jack, age 81 years. Jack was in Cadet Squadrons 14, 15 and 26. Funeral Service at the memorial pavilion at USAFA cemetery 12/18/25 at 10am. Reception - Eisenhower Golf Course at USAFA 12/18/25 to follow at 11am

Obituary:
Jackie “Jack” Lee Roberts (June 16, 1944-December 3, 2025) was born in Hamilton, Montana to Betty and Chester Roberts.

He enlisted in the Air Force on July 1962 and graduated from the Air Force Academy (1968) with a B.S. in Engineering Sciences and further an M.S. Astronautical Engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology (1976).

Jack served over 22 years in the Air Force, with 4 years in the Vietnam War. In Vietnam, he completed two tours in Air Rescue and Recovery Service, he flew over 430 combat sorties, primarily in the HH-43 helicopter.

After Vietnam he flew C-5/A planes in Israel and during the Greek-Turkish War. He also served two years as a senior diplomat in Ankara, Turkey. He flew C-5’s and C-141’s as well.

He retired as Lieutenant Colonel in Albuquerque, NM. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Defense Meritorious Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, and Air Medal with one silver and one bronze oak leaf cluster,
among many other awards.

He had over a decade of R&D experience in the Department of Defense space programs. He was Deputy Director of Advanced Weapons Technology at the Air Force Weapons Laboratory at Kirtland Air Force Base (Abq, NM). He was involved in the
development of the Space Sextant, a satellite that was the first military payload to go into space.

Jack enjoyed riding his motorcycle, hiking, traveling, flying, and learning about space. He had a gift for language, a passion for lifelong learning, and a memorable sense of humor. Though he lived all over the world and all across the United States, his home
state of Montana always held a special place in his heart, along with the Air Force Academy.

Jack passed away in Cincinnati, Ohio where he lived the past 4 years with his wife, daughter, son-in-law, and grandchildren. He spent his days reading and sharing stories with his family. He was 81 years old. He is survived by his wife Kathie, to whom he
was married for 44 years; his son, Scott and wife Kelly; his daughter, Nicole and husband Jon; and his grandchildren, Lauran, Charlotte, and Henry.

Funeral services will take place at the United States Air Force Academy National Cemetery, Colorado Springs, CO on Thursday, December 18th, 2025, at 10am. Reception to follow at Eisenhower Golf Course at USAFA.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests charitable donations be made to an organization or cause in Jack's memory and honor related to his life and passions, such as the Disabled American Veterans (DAV), US Department of Veterans Affairs, or any
organization whose purpose and vision highlights his interests.