Captain Steven R. Kaltneckar USN-R

Steven R. Kaltneckar, 62, passed away March 21, 2012 in Denver, CO. He is survived by his wife of 10 years, Patricia Kaltneckar; daughters Stephanie (Tom) Mazzo & Amy (Ed) Dixon; step-daughters Laura Farley & Cristin (Martijn) Bruggeman; grandchildren Cole Mazzo, Samantha Mazzo, Maggie Dixon, Rena Bruggeman, Roxanne Bruggeman, & Valerie Burggeman; brothers Nicholas (Betty Ann) Kaltneckar & Michael (Alicia) Kaltneckar; and many nieces & nephews. Steven served in several Naval Reserve Units and was the Division Officer, Executive Officer & Commanding Officer of the Navy Space & Naval Warfare Unit 0366. He was one of the creators of the Naval Space Reserve Program (NSRP), and served as the Director. He worked with GE Aerospace and Lockheed Martin for 20 years where was a Principal Engineer. Captain Steven Kaltneckar, ""Kalts"", entered the Navy from Villanova University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Villanova University in 1971 (and a Master of Arts degree in Political Science and International Relations in 1983) and was commissioned Ensign, USN under the NROTC program. As an surface line officer, he served as the communications officer onboard the USS VOGE (FF-1047) during numerous deployments to WESTLANT and the U.S. SIXTH Fleet. In 1973 he was assigned duties as navigator for VOGE and DESRON 24. In June 1974, he was assigned to special duty to CINCLANTFLT as the Officer in Charge of the Counseling and Assistance Center at NAS Jacksonville, Florida.   Following his release from active duty in 1975, Kalts affiliated with the Naval Reserve and served as a surface warfare operations instructor, and division head for plans, policy, and operations with NR FLEETRACEN 0104 and NR FLEETRAGRU 0202 in Philadelphia, PA.   In 1981, Kalts changed his designator to Special Duty Officer (Intelligence) and was assigned to NR Fleet Intelligence Center, Europe and Atlantic 0693 at NAS Willow Grove, PA, where he served in a variety of intelligence production and department head billets. From 1986 to 1987, he served with Intelligence Volunteer Training Unit 0104 as the Reserve Intelligence Area Training Officer.   In 1987, Kalts was selected as the Executive Officer of a new unit --NAVOPINTCEN 0293. Following two Executive Officer tours with the unit, he served as the unit's Commanding Officer of that unit from 1990 until 1992. Kalts volunteered for recall to active duty for nine months in support of Operation Desert Storm in 1991. During this period he was assigned as a special projects officer for classified systems at the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command, Naval Space Technology Program, Washington, DC. In March of 1993, he was promoted to the rank of Captain. Kalts was selected as the Commanding Officer of NR SPAWAR HQ 0366 in October 1992. He served for three years in command of SPAWAR HQ unit until October 1995 when he was assigned duties as Deputy Director of the NSRP and Executive Officer of NR SPAEW 0666. Captain Steven Kaltneckar was the Commanding Officer of NR SPAEW N6 0666 and Director of the Naval Space Reserve Program (NSRP) from October 1998 until September 2000 upon his retirement from the Navy.   Kalts is authorized to wear the Legion of Merit Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal (second award), the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, the National Defense Service Medal, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal, the Meritorious Unit Citation Ribbon, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, and the Pistol Expert Medal.   In his civilian occupation, Kalts was a Principal Systems Engineer for classified space programs with the Lockheed Martin Corporation. Chief for Systems Engineering for National Programs, Rocky Mountain Systems Engineering & Integration Programs (SI Enterprise Integration-Colorado Springs). Senior staff member and Principal Engineer for engineering and functional interfaces for the DoD and the National Security Space and Intelligence Communities. Co-investigator for the Lockheed Martin NETCAP Homeland Defense and Security Project—an innovative ""Black-to-White"" national capabilities and technology integration initiative designed to enhance emergency management and first responder situation awareness and contingency operations. Responsible for business development and technical support to classified/compartmented DoD Space Control programs and projects. From 1993-2005, Kalts was LM's Principal Systems Engineer for Customer Support and Special Classified Programs. Responsible for on-site support to a National Reconnaissance Office Headquarters Directorate. Served as the lead technical representative for internal, joint service, national, and inter-agency Integrated Product Teams (IPTs) and working groups involving ground and space system protection/survivability engineering and vulnerability assessment. Lead contractor systems engineer for customer enterprise architecture protection activities involving: Critical Infrastructure Protection; Continuity of Operations (COOP); satellite survivability/vulnerability assessment and mitigation; flight safety/satellite operations; emergency contingency planning and exercises, and policy development. Responsible for coordination of various engineering projects with space operations staff at various operations sites. Lead Washington LMC SI Engineer for a successful two-year major ground architecture improvement initiative involving over 300 engineers and developers from across the customer and mission partner enterprises. Representative to external and internal mission partner organizations for highly classified programs and tasking involving space control, joint survivability/protection issues, and Congressionally directed actions/studies. A visitation will be held on Monday, March 26, 2012, from 12:00pm to 3:00pm; the Funeral Service is to follow at 3:00 pm, both at Adams-Green Funeral Home, 721 Elden St., Herndon, VA. Burial is on Tuesday, 11:00am, at Thomas Cemetery, Thomas, West Virginia. Memorial donations may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, woundedwarriorproject.org; or the Salvation Army Food Bank, salvationarmyusa.com. Shipmates It's dawn following a difficult night for us. A blessed sadness settles on our home as we mourn and celebrate a life well lived; the life of Captain Steve Kaltneckar. Yet, ""A life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away"". Kalts lived those moments with his family, with nature and with the Navy. Kalts embodied a set of values about family, faith and country that served us well. He spoke out for the highest traditions of this Republic and to the letter and spirit of a Constitution that he took an oath to defend. He implicitly understood the personal responsibility, self determination and social discipline that makes us an exceptional people with an affection of all. He defined himself in the traditions of the Navy and he honored his Navy family. An officer and a gentleman in all respects, he leaves an enduring influence on my family and on our Navy community. A brother in arms, in friendship and in spirit; Well Done, Captain K! Be at peace. And so, our prayers this day are for the family and friends of Kalts and especially for our dear friend, Patty; that they may find peace, joy and gratitude in their lives and know through a mysterious inspiration that in the final scene, we all come together. ""Any man who may be asked in this century what he did to make his life worthwhile, I think he can respond with a good deal of pride and satisfaction… I served in the United States Navy."" - John F. Kennedy, 1963 Please share your memories of Steven and condolences with his family by selecting the ""Sign Guestbook"" link below. Please also view the photo gallery.