James Kavanagh Moran

Jim was born in Concord, MA, Jan. 20, 1947, the son of Edna R. (Massey) and William J. Moran, Sr., beloved brother to Rita F. (John W.) Pope, Chelmsford, MA, Kathleen (Jurgen) Appis, Chester, NJ, Rosemary (the late Carl) Madia, Hyannis, MA, William J. Moran, Jr., McDonough GA, Robert R. (Nataley) Moran, Concord, MA. Predeceased by sisters Ruth E. Moran and Edna Mea Moran. Admired and loved Uncle to Kelly Deraney, Jackson, GA, William J. Moran, III, McDonough GA, Marlene Appis-Chung, Fredericksburg, VA, James Appis (deceased), Dara Laughlin, NH, Michelle Bilsbury, Littleton, MA, Robert Moran, Harvard, MA, Lindsey Dempsey, Concord, MA, Dallas Bellamy, Chico, CA, Kathleen Fujita, Chelmsford, MA, and 14 grand nieces and nephews. He leaves his dear companion and partner Janice M. Murphy of Idyllwild, CA.

Jim was a proud graduate of the Concord Carlisle High School Class of 65. Prior to joining the Air Force, Jim graduated from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, where he participated and graduated from the Reserve Officer’s Training Program. Later he earned a Master’s Degree in National Security and Decision Making at the United States Naval War College at Newport, Rhode Island. Jim’s pilot qualifications included the C-141, C-5, KC10 and KC-135.

His military career spanned 4 decades which included serving in Vietnam through the Persian Gulf Wars. Following college Jim served active duty Air Force through completion; at which time, in 1975, he joined the 702nd Airlift Squadron, Operations Group, United States Air Force Reserve, at McGuire AFB. From 1975 through 1993, Jim remained an active member of the McGuire Group Training and Standardization advancing as Group Assistant Deputy for Operations. In 1993, following his graduation from the Naval War College, he was assigned as Operations Group Commander, 439th Airlift Wing, Westover AFB, Massachusetts, where he served until 1996 leading multiple flying and flying support squadrons conducting C5A Galaxy Operations worldwide. In 1996, Jim returned to McGuire AFB where he assumed command of the 514th Operations Group supporting both C-141 and KC-10 tanker operations. In 2000, he accepted an assignment acting simultaneously as Assistant Vice Commander 4th Air Force; Chief of Staff; Inspector General; and Commander 604th Regional Support Group, March ARB, California. This assignment included command of numerous aerial port, logistics, medical support, and combat camera squadrons located in the western US, Alaska, Hawaii, and the territory of Guam.

After the terrorist attacks of September 11, Jim requested and received a three-year extension to his pending mandatory military retirement. During the three years, he volunteered for three overseas assignments in support of ongoing offensive operations. In 2002, he served as Commander 462nd Air Expeditionary Group at Diego Garcia, BIOT operating KC10, KC-135, and C5 aircraft in support of flight operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. His deployed squadrons were responsible for critical strategic aeromedical evacuation of injured and wounded personnel from the war zones. In 2004, he deployed as Commander, 494th Air Expeditionary Group at Moron, Spain, where C5 and other strategic airlift aircraft under his command provided significant logistical support to Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Horn of Africa.

Jim retired in 2005 after more than 35 years of continuous service and began a career with Boeing C17A Aircrew Training System program supporting the 452nd AMW at March Air Reserve Base, Riverside CA.

Jim proudly flew over 11,000 hours in the C141A/B/C, KC-10, and C5A aircraft. He received numerous recognitions, including the Legion of Merit, Vietnam Service Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, and the Kuwait Liberation Medal.

Jim lived a life full of his passion for exploration, history, and adventure. He enjoyed travelling the world, the South Pacific being one of his favorite places to go. Hobbies abound, he loved scuba diving, sailing, flying, and chasing freight trains across the country. He took in this grand country, which he loved and served, going to the National Parks and driving his Corvette along the famous Route 66. An avid photographer, he applied his keen abilities taking precisely timed photographs of train crossings. At home, he enjoyed his yard, the birds, and wildlife, including an occasional bobcat family that roamed through. He was loving and loyal and touched many lives. He will be deeply missed by family and those he worked with and knew.

Interment will be at Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside, California on August 9, 2019, at 2:15 PM.

A memorial service will also be held in Concord, Massachusetts, at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to The Salvation Army, Riverside CA, 3695 1st St, Riverside CA, 92501(https://riverside.salvationarmy.org/) or the Scholarship Fund of Concord and Carlisle, 34 Walden St., Unit 217, Concord, MA 01742-2542 (https://www.thescholarshipfundofcc.org/)