William Reed Usher

(Age 84)

General Usher passed peacefully on March 28, 2017 in Arlington, VA with his loving family at his side. He was the dear husband to Frances M. Usher, beloved father to two sons, William R. Usher, III and John W. Usher, and doting grandfather to Andrew R. Usher.

During his distinguished 31-year military career, General Usher served in a broad range of Air Force, Joint Staff, and command positions. He flew over 100 combat missions in the F4-C aircraft with the 12th Tactical Fighter Wing in Vietnam, earning two Distinguished Flying Crosses and the Air Medal. He served as aide to the Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force and to two Secretaries of the Air Force. In later assignments, he was Chief USAF Mission to the Republic of Turkey, and Commander, USAF Technical Training Center at Lowry AB, Denver CO.

General Usher had a successful career in business following his retirement from the military in 1985. He was a senior executive with the Lockheed Martin Corp. and was Chairman of the Board and CEO of Core Software Technology. In his later years, he was a consultant to senior leadership in the Pentagon and US Intelligence Community on national security matters.

General Usher was born in Worcester, MA in 1933. He graduated from the Mount Hermon School in 1950, from Yale University in 1954, and Harvard Business School in 1960. He was a member of the Cosmos Club, the Chevy Chase Club, and the Royal Air Force Club, London. He was an avid traveler, skier, and cook and he had a life-long fascination with trains of all types. He was an active member of historic Christ Church of Alexandria, Virginia, where a memorial service will be held in his honor at 2:00 pm on Friday, April 7.

Arrangements under the direction of Murphy Funeral Homes, Arlington, VA.