George Edward Mueller Jr.

George 'Ned' Edward Mueller, Jr., 70, of Seabrook, TX, passed away on November 10, 2024, the 249th birthday of the Marine Corps, at Harbor Hospice in Houston, TX. A Requiem Mass will be held on April 2, 2025 at the Old Post Chapel, Fort Myer, VA, followed by a burial in Arlington National Cemetery.

Ned was born in Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii, on August 11, 1954, the eldest son of Elizabeth (Hamilton) and George Mueller. He graduated from Bishop Ireton High School, Alexandria, VA, in 1972. In 1976, he graduated from the United States Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science in Marine Engineering and received his commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. He and his loving wife, Barbara Anne Swago, were married on February 5, 1977, at Fort Belvoir, VA.

Ned, call sign “Nasty”, had an illustrious career as a Naval Aviator and Marine Corps fighter pilot. After completion of The Basic School at Quantico, VA, Ned reported to NAS Pensacola, FL for pilot training. His first operational assignment was with F-4 squadron VMFA-451 based in Beaufort, SC, including a tour in Iwakuni, Japan. In 1982, he was one of the pilots initially selected to transition to the F/A-18, and he continued on to serve as an F/A-18 Instructor Pilot with VFA-125 in Lemoore, CA. He subsequently returned to Beaufort, SC with F/A-18 squadron VMFA-115 in 1985. During this tour, Ned attended and graduated from the Navy Fighter Weapons School (‘Topgun’).

Ned then attended the United States Naval Test Pilot School and graduated with distinction in December 1989. He was appointed the head of the F/A-18 Office at NAS Patuxent River, MD. During this tour, he was temporarily assigned to MAG-11 during Desert Shield in January 1990 and flew combat missions in Operation Desert Storm. He began his final tour of duty in 1994 when he became the Commanding Officer of VMFA-312. During his command, the squadron deployed aboard the U.S.S. Theodore Roosevelt and flew combat missions in the Bosnian War. A major source of pride for Ned was that he returned all of his Marines home safely to their families.

Ned retired from the Marine Corps as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1997 after 21 years of dedicated service to his country, a commitment that reflected his deep sense of duty and patriotism. His personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Strike Medal, and the Navy Commendation Medal.

After his retirement in 1997, Ned relocated with his family to Seabrook, TX to work in the space industry. He held a number of positions of responsibility including the X-38 Project Manager for Lockheed Martin, representative to NASA’s Columbia Task Force, and the Management Panel Representative for NASA's Independent Space Shuttle Return to Flight Task Group. He then joined ARINC Engineering Services, where he managed services in various applications, including aviation, unmanned systems, telecommunications, security and surveillance, and interoperability. In 2006, he joined GB Tech and served in executive roles in strategic development and federal operations, ultimately as the Vice President and General Manager, Operations.

In 2009, Ned began working as an independent consultant to the oil and gas industry, and in 2017 he founded his own consulting company focusing on operational risk management and senior leadership insight. Additionally, Ned served as a Silver Fox Advisor where he advised, consulted, and mentored businesses of all sizes located in the greater Houston area. Through the Silver Foxes, he became an integral part of the Houston Community College (HCC) team in his role as Entrepreneur In Residence, HCC Center for Entrepreneurship Southeast. He also taught classes in HCC's drone program, as well as in aviation history.

Ned ‘s true calling was being a Marine fighter pilot, and his visceral joy of flying was evident to all who knew him during his military career. Later in his life, his teaching experiences held incredible meaning for him, and guiding his students by mentoring and passing on his experiences became his newfound passion. Those who knew Ned throughout the many paths he traversed in his life have expressed profound love and respect for the impact he has left behind.

Ned was a multi-faceted man of many talents, a ‘Renaissance’ man. He loved to read, travel, and learn about the world and history, and he curated an incredible depth of knowledge that captivated those he engaged in conversation. He had a fighter pilot’s sense of humor and the profane, and his laughter still resonates in the memories of those who witnessed his fun (and 'Nasty') side. He had an innate talent for cooking, and he delighted his family and friends with his gourmet concoctions that he developed over the years. Ned will also be remembered for his unfailing courage, a courage that he displayed throughout his long illness and to the very end. Above all, he exuded a humble self-assuredness and loving acceptance of others that left an impact on those who knew him, whether in fleeting encounters or in the hearts of those who knew him for years or a lifetime.

Ned is survived by his mother Elizabeth, his wife Barb, daughters Melissa Taldykin and Lindsay Mueller, son-in-law Nikita Taldykin, granddaughters Nadia and Vera Taldykin, and brothers Paul and Stephen. He was preceded in death by his father, Captain George Mueller, USN (Ret)., who is also interred in Arlington National Cemetery. His family remembers him as a dedicated husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather, son, brother, and Marine, whose legacy of integrity, service, and love will live on in the hearts of those whose lives he touched.

Services for Ned will take place on Wednesday, April 2, 2025 at 10:45 am at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia.