LTG (R) Donald M Lionetti was born on March 6th, 1940 in Jersey City, NJ and died on March 6th, 2019 in Tampa, FL. Don lived a full and extraordinary life. Growing up in Northern NJ, Don accepted an appointment to the US Military Academy at West Point, NY and began his career as a Cadet in 1957. It was at West Point where he met his soul mate and life partner, Roberta Ann Tibbett (Bobbi) of Emerson, NJ. They wed on June 11, 1961, just days after his graduation from West Point, and were happily married for over 57 years. In April of 1962 they welcomed their first child, Laura. Sons Don Jr. and Christopher were born in 1965 and 1970 respectively.
Throughout his 34-year US Army Active Duty career, Don and Bobbi moved 31 times. Duty stations included Ft. Bliss, TX, Ft. Lewis, WA, West Point, NY, Ft. Leavenworth, KS, Ft. Sill, OK, Ft. Monroe, VA as well as several assignments at the Pentagon and over six years in Germany. Don also served a tour of duty in Vietnam.
He loved the work he did with soldiers and their families and always looked out for his people, giving credit for his success to the men and women that served under him, a hallmark of a great leader.
Of all his leadership roles, his greatest self-fulfillment in uniform came as Commanding General of the U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery Center and Fort Bliss. As Chief of Branch, he provided strategic vision, operational concepts and materiel requirements which were later validated in the Gulf War. Under his leadership, the ADA was thrust into the national and international spotlight as his units protected civilians and our Armed Forces against Scud missiles with the Patriot Missile System, ushering in a new era in air defense. Don’s final assignment as a Lieutenant General was serving as Commanding General, U.S. Army Space and Strategic Defense Command.
After retirement from the Army, Don served as VP for Air and Missile Defense Systems for Lockheed Martin for 5 years. He was also a National Security Consultant for ground-based air and missile defense, space applications for terrestrial military operations and related research, technology and acquisition until 2017.
Over the course of Don’s career, he was twice awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit Medal, and Meritorious Service Medal and was awarded the Defense Superior Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal, and National Defense Service Medal. He was also the 1996 recipient of the American Astronautical Society Trophy for his leadership in the application of astronautics to development of space systems for national defense.
In addition to graduating from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Don also earned a Master of Science degree in Engineering from Arizona State University and completed Command and General Staff College as well as National War College.
Don loved traveling all over the world with Bobbi and friends and especially enjoyed spending time with his children and grandchildren. He also remained active in the air and missile defense and the West Point alumni communities until 2018.
Don was preceded in death by his parents, Norman and Alice Lionetti, and his numerous aunts and uncles. He is survived by his wife Roberta, daughter Laura Lionetti Barton, son-in-law Mike Barton and granddaughter Kelsey Barton, of Tampa, FL, his sons, Don Lionetti Jr. and daughter-in-law Julie of Bellevue, WA and Chris Lionetti, daughter-in-law Betsy Lionetti and grandchildren Roxanne and Dominico of Duvall, WA. Don is also survived by his brother Bill Lionetti of Holyoke, MA ,sister MaryAnn Gleason of Northampton, MA, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
On March 6th, the world lost a great man, the country lost a great soldier and we lost our beloved husband, dad, grandpa and friend. He will be greatly missed.
The Long Grey Line welcomes a brother into heaven.
Well done Don….be thou at rest.
A memorial service will be held at Christ the King Catholic Church at 821 S. Dale Mabry, Tampa, FL on Thursday March 28th at 2:00 PM followed by a reception at the church. Burial with full military honors will take place Monday, July 29th at 8:45 A.M. at Arlington National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers a donation can be made to the First to Fire Endowment of the ADA Association, PO Box 33727, Ft Sill, OK 73503 or to the Wounded Warrior Project – PO Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675.
