Lt. Gen Arlen Dirk Jameson USAF, Ret.

Arlen Dirk Jameson, Lt. Gen USAF (ret) inspired and enriched so many people during his full and beautiful life. To the great sadness of his many family and friends, Dirk was called to heaven on April 15, 2021 from his home city for the last 25 years, Austin, Texas.

Dirk was born to Mary Elizabeth and Ashley Day Jameson on November 11, 1940 in Vernon, Texas. Son of a career Air Force Chaplain, Dirk and his three sisters spent their early years in various communities in Texas, ending up in San Antonio. At the age of 12, he tragically lost his mother to cancer. Dirk and his sisters were richly blessed within a year of that traumatic event, when his father met Mary Emma Hickox at the Lackland AFB Officers Club, initiating a beautiful marriage spanning more than 57 years. After their wedding, the military transferred the family almost immediately to an assignment on the island of Guam. During Dirk’s sophomore year in high school, the young family transferred to Spokane, Washington where Dirk graduated with the Lewis and Clark High School class of 1958. While working multiple jobs to finance his college expenses, Dirk excelled in the Air Force ROTC program at the University of Puget Sound, played football and was elected President of the Sigma Nu Fraternity. It was there that Dirk glimpsed his first sight of the 1959 Sigma Nu White Rose Queen candidate, Betty Strobel. Their love and commitment to each other blossomed quickly, with them secretly marrying the summer before their junior years of college at the Ladd Air Force Base Chapel, Anchorage, Alaska to the delight and mild surprise of their families.

After commissioning as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Air Force in the summer of 1962, Dirk and Betty crossed the United States to Homestead, Florida for his first assignment at Homestead Air Force Base, thus beginning his distinguished 33 year Air Force career. Quickly volunteering after the Cuban Missile Crisis for Strategic Air Command’s nascent Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) program, Dirk certified as one of the very earliest Minuteman ICBM launch crew members, and the family relocated to his first operational base at Ellsworth AFB, SD, missile operations being the focus of the majority of his military career. He rapidly rose through the operational ranks, eventually serving in command positions at the Squadron, Group, Wing, Air Division, and Numbered Air Force, his career culminating as Deputy Commander in Chief (DCINC) of US Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) for three years before his retirement in 1996. His full military biography can be viewed at https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Biographies/Display/Article/106648/lieutenant-general-arlen-d-jameson/.

From his days as a football captain and fraternity President, Dirk learned and excelled in the art of leadership. Dirk was a Servant Leader in every sense of the word, leading with passion, conviction, courage, and empathy. He had the knack of eliciting the very best from those in his sphere and under his command, leading through example, never asking for more from others than the exceptional standards he set for himself. He earned the affectionate nickname “The Coach” from his troops as a sign of their respect and devotion to his vision and ideals of service before self, integrity, and unwavering commitment to his beloved country and Constitution. He served a tour of duty in Vietnam 1969, advising the South Vietnamese Air Force in management and leadership issues, and served in the Pentagon advising the Under Secretary of the Air Force on topics critical to supporting Air Force members around the world. Returning to the operational missile force in 1981, then Colonel Jameson led the 90th Strategic Missile Wing (The Mighty Ninety) in Cheyenne, WY to win Strategic Air Command’s “Triple Crown” of Missile Operations trophies, while also being named the SAC’s Outstanding Wing Commander. Notably, as DCINC USSTRATCOM in 1995, Dirk was instrumental in establishing relations with his Russian Strategic Rocket Forces counterpart at the end of the Cold War, an event that significantly thawed the political and military standoff between the US and USSR, increasing stability and lowering the risk of a nuclear war.

After his USAF retirement, Dirk remained active with numerous commercial space and global security initiatives, as well as Texas and local community endeavors, frequently traveling the country as a recognized expert, continuing his commitment to solving technical and political issues threatening our country and our planet. He enjoyed supporting Betty’s art shows as her “art assistant”, indulging his lifelong passion for playing golf, skiing, vacationing in Steamboat Springs, travelling abroad for official business and pleasure, and nurturing close relationships with his grand and great grandchildren. He and Betty had a wide circle of family and close friends around the globe, and even casual acquaintances walked away enriched and honored to have met him.

Despite his revered career, he was known to most as Dirk, Grandpa, Pop Pop, Brother, Dad, Uncle, Golf Buddy, and always, friend. As a leader and mentor to so many, he was humble, empathetic, compassionate, loyal, and kind. He was a generous person, giving freely of his resources, time and experience to advise, support, and mentor the pursuits of so many people who became outstanding in their fields and communities. He was a Great Dad and Husband, caring, tender and fun. His zest for life was awe inspiring and infectious. His personality filled the room; he was often the champion of wild adventures or mischievously fun events. He had a lifelong sense of humor, and many commented on the “twinkle in his eye” while telling a good story or pulling an innocent prank. He was passionate about his ideals, and was not afraid to take a stand or support a cause he thought worthy. He was thoughtful, and pursued knowledge with an insatiable thirst, especially in topics of policy, leadership, science, and technology. He was competitive, but not to a fault, inspiring athletic events he played or teams he coached to numerous titles and achievement. He was so proud of his sons, both graduates of the US Air Force Academy, Air Force Officers, community and business leaders. This was only exceeded in his pride for his grandchildren, all high achievers in science, business, and academics. His devotion to the love of his life, his precious Betty Louise, was legendary and beautiful. To the extended family he was our Rock, leading us all to higher heights, and always doing the hard work of preparing us for what may come next, no matter the challenge.

Arlen Dirk was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his beloved wife of 60 years, Betty Louise Jameson; his sons, Austin Dale Jameson (Maureen) of Columbia, MD and Patric Day Jameson of Phoenix, Arizona; four grandchildren, Nathan Meade Jameson, Colton Meade Jameson, Annaliese Marie Jameson and Austin Dirk Jameson, and a great granddaughter, Avery Anna Jameson; his sisters Jana Jameson Nave (John) of San Antonio, TX; Lynnis Jameson (Lawrence Hamel) of Kansas City, MO; Kadi Jameson Wills (Jim) of Guadalajara, Mexico, his Aunt, Martha Butler (Harold) of Yorktown, TX;. He is also survived by, many sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews and cousins.

The Funeral service will be held at 2:00PM on Friday, April 23, 2021 at Northwest Hills United Methodist Church, 7050 Village Center Drive, Austin, Texas. Masks and Social Distancing required while at the Funeral Service. Facebook livestream link bottom of page at https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/austin-tx/arlen-jameson-10155237

Interment will be at Arlington National Cemetery at a future date/time to be determined.

Donations in his honor can be made to the Air Force Academy Foundation at: https://securelb.imodules.com/s/1885/rd19/interior-no-social.aspx?sid=1885&gid=2&pgid=418&cid=1063