Hon. Martin C. Faga – In Memoriam

by | Oct 21, 2023 | Blog

We are greatly saddened by the passing of RNTF’s co-founder and chairman of the board, the Honorable Martin C. Faga.

Marty was one of the kindest, most sensible, and finest people I know. His passing will leave an especially large hole. In addition to his levelheaded counsel, we always enjoyed hearing his anecdotes of life in the huge, often irrational, organization that is government:

  • How he had to pretty much force the Air Force to put GPS in aircraft.
  • How during a briefing President George Bush liked Marty’s idea and told him ‘some people, maybe some in this room, will try to prevent you from doing what I asked. I want you to come back every month and let me know how it is going.’
  • How as a program and budget staffer for  Congress he was often able to influence the course of events within his area far more than much more senior people. The lesson being that good staff are more important and influential than many realize.

In addition to being a very committed husband, brother, father, and grandfather, he had an amazing career that included service as:

  • An R&D officer in the U.S. Air Force
  • An engineer with the CIA
  • Staff for the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence for the House of Representatives
  • Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Space
  • Director of the National Reconnaissance Office (where he declassified that organization’s existence)
  • President and Chief Executive Officer of MITRE

He served on the:

  • President’s Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board and to the Public Interest Declassification Board
  • President’s National Space-based Positioning, Navigation, and Timing Advisory Board
  • Boards of Directors for:
    • Alliant Techsystems
    • Orbital ATK
    • Electronic Data Systems
    • DigitalGlobe
    • GeoEye
    • Association of Former Intelligence Officers
    • Resilient Navigation and Timing Foundation

His honors include:

  • National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal
  • DOD Distinguished Public Service Medal
  • Air Force Exceptional Civilian Service Medal
  • NASA Distinguished Service Medal
  • Intelligence Community Seal Medallion
  • Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration
  • National Security Space Association Lifetime Achievement Award. A video of the event is available here.

Funeral Services Monday, 23 October 2023

A funeral service for Martin will be held Monday, October 23, 2023 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM at St. Anthony of Padua Roman Catholic Church, 3305 Glen Carlyn Rd, Falls Church, VA 22041. A committal service will occur Monday, October 23, 2023 from 3:00 PM to 3:30 PM at National Memorial Park, 7482 Lee Highway, Falls Church, VA 22042. A reception will occur Monday, October 23, 2023 from 3:30 PM to 5:00 PM.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.NationalFH-MP.com for the Faga family.