ADMIRAL GEORGE E. R. KINNEAR, USN, Retired

Born: January 12, 1928; Mounds, OK

Death: August 9, 2015; York Harbor, ME

Occupation: Naval Aviator

Memorial donations may be made to United States Navy Memorial in Washington, D.C. or a favorite charity.

Tomorrow our nation will honor a great Admiral and human being in the course of his funeral service at the Fort Myers (Virginia) Chapel and burial with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery. Admiral “Gus” Kinnear earned every bit of the peace he now enjoys.

York Harbor, Maine – Admiral George E.R. “Gus” Kinnear II made his final take-off at the age of 87 on August 9, 2015, from his home in York Harbor, Maine, surrounded by his family flight crew who loved him dearly. He was born in Mounds, OK., on January 12, 1928, the son of the late Neil Tilman Kinnear and Mary Miller-Bancroft, and was raised in Brooksville, Fla., where the family settled on a citrus farm after his father returned from combat in World War I as a disabled veteran.

His Naval career began during World War II when he left high school to enlist on his 17th birthday. In between combat tours in Korea and Vietnam, he made up for his lack of a high school diploma by earning two degrees from Stanford University (PhD in Engineering Management and MS in Industrial Engineering), and two from George Washington University (MA in Personnel Management and BA in Physical Science and Mathematics). He also graduated from the Naval War College and the Naval Postgraduate School. Admiral Kinnear is probably the first enlisted man to rise to the rank of four-star admiral after having been commissioned without a college degree. Admiral Kinnear served as the U.S. Representative to the NATO Military Committee, Brussels, Belgium, prior to his retirement in 1982.

His distinguished career as a naval aviator with sub-specialties in R&D, Human Resources and Financial Management included such assignments as Commander of the Naval Air Force U.S. Atlantic Fleet, Chief of Legislative Affairs, Assistant Chief of Naval Personnel, Special Assistant for Financial Management, and Assistant Comptroller for Cost Review and Reporting. Kinnear was an extraordinary naval officer and aviator who played a vital role in numerous defining events that changed history over the span of his career. His life was a shining example of the value of character, integrity and valor, as well as devotion to his family and country. He flew more than 100 combat missions in Korea and, later, in Vietnam, and flew more different aircraft in combat than any naval aviator. Flying off the carriers USS Shangri-La, USS Princeton, USS Lake Champlain, USS Kitty Hawk and USS Ranger, Kinnear logged more than 6,000 hours of flight time and made more than 1,000 carrier landings, many at night, in bad weather and under combat conditions. As a combat aviator, he earned many decorations for valor, including the Legion of Merit, four Distinguished Flying Crosses, and over a dozen Air Medals. He made the transition to flying jets by “riding in the back seat” on several missions and then, with no formal training, taking the controls of his own aircraft. He later commanded Air Wing Two, the Navy’s first all-jet air wing. Kinnear was one of the first Navy pilots designated and specially trained to deliver nuclear weapons from an aircraft carrier, but fortunately never had to take on such a daunting mission.

He was a key player in planning the U.S. response to the seizure of the USS Pueblo “spy ship” by the North Koreans in 1968, dealing directly with the White House. His first ship command was USS Spiegel Grove when it was designated the South Atlantic recovery vessel for the famous Apollo 13 lunar mission, and he later received a special commendation for preventing the ship from sinking when a burst pipe flooded the engine room. Kinnear was the Commanding Officer of Naval Air Station Miramar in San Diego, known popularly as “Fighter Town USA” and for “Top Gun” fame, where he managed a major expansion to accommodate the Pacific Fleet’s transition to the F-14. While serving as Commanding Officer of Carrier Group One, during which his flagship was USS Kitty Hawk, he implemented Outlaw Hawk, the Navy’s first carrier-based digital command and control system. He was instrumental in the program that led to the first-time use of computer-based electronic systems in tactical operations of ships at sea. While serving in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, he was a key player in the F-18 and Harpoon missile procurement programs. While serving as Chief of Legislative Affairs in the Office of the Secretary of the Navy, Kinnear was the primary liaison between the Navy and the Congress, where he developed many relationships at the highest levels of the Pentagon as well as with Congressional and Executive branch officials, including the President.

Following his retirement from the Navy, Kinnear became Senior Vice President of Grumman International, which entailed several adventures dealing with top military and aerospace officials in the People’s Republic of China. Kinnear served as the Interim President of the University of New Hampshire, and was elected to the boards of several corporations including Compaq Computer, New England Digital Corporation and the Aerospace Corporation. He served as Chairman of the Board of The Retired Officers Association and he helped establish the U.S. Navy Memorial in Washington, DC, and several other Navy-related memorials and museums. In his later years, he was President, Kinnear Associates, York Harbor, ME, and he served as Chairman, Kinnear Cundari Associates, Alexandria, VA, until his death. His experience growing up on the farm during the Great Depression shaped him as humble, gracious and down-to-earth. Gus was known for his humor and boundless energy. He played football for the Universities of Florida and Florida State, and was an avid tennis player.

He urged everybody to simply “Call me Gus” and to “Keep smiling”. He was a true patriot and American hero, and we mourn his loss.

Gus was predeceased by his brother SGTMAJ Neil T. Kinnear Jr. USMC (Ret.), sisters Patsy Crum and Peggy Carr, sons George E. R. Kinnear III (“Scooter”) and P. Kim Kinnear.

He is survived by his wife Mary Cundari Kinnear, of York Harbor, ME; Four sons: Kevin Kinnear of Bonita, CA; Douglas Kinnear (Terry) of Del Mar, CA; CDR Stephen Cundari, USN (ret) (Susan) of Alexandria, VA; and David Cundari of York Harbor, ME; three daughters: Kandace Kinnear Balazich (Khris) of Redding, CA; Holley Kinnear of Del Mar, CA; and Dr. Christina Cundari Vieglais (David) of Annapolis, MD; ten grandchildren: Ethan Kinnear of Whangarei, New Zealand; Felice Kinnear of Encinitas, CA; Dr. Mikaela Kinnear Elson (Zachary) of Del Mar, CA; Dr. Alyssa Kinnear De Santis (Marcello) of Del Mar, CA; Bryony Kinnear of Del Mar, CA; Amberly Steffensen (Chelsea) of Redding, CA; Sierra Howell (Allen Scott) of Red Bluff, CA; SGT Matthew Cundari, USA, of Fort Riley, KS; FC3 Bradley Cundari, USN, of Pearl Harbor, HI; and Kyle Cundari of Reston, VA; two great-grandchildren: Manoa Kinnear of Whangarei, NZ, and Stella Howell of Red Bluff, CA.

A funeral service and interment is scheduled for Friday, May 6th 2016 at Arlington National Cemetery.

A memorial service will be held at the Old Post Chapel located on Fort Meyer adjacent to Arlington National Cemetery at 12:45pm (Bldg 335, Meigs Ave.). This service will be followed by a procession starting at the Chapel Gate through the cemetery to the funeral service. Picture IDs are required for access onto Ft. Meyer where the Chapel is located.

A reception will immediately follow at the Army Navy Country Club (1700 Army Navy Drive, Arlington, VA 22202) in the Williamsburg Room.

The following link provides additional information for maps to Joint Base Meyer-Henderson Hall, Arlington National Cemetery, and Army Navy Country Club.

In Memory of Admiral George E.R. Kinnear II