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D.J. Wolkensdorfer

Retired Navy Rear Adm. Daniel J. Wolkensdorfer, 74, of Annapolis, died May 16 of complications of pneumonia at Anne Arundel Medical Center.

Born in McCook, Neb., on May 11, 1932, Adm. Wolkensdorfer attended the University of Nebraska where he received a degree in civil engineering in 1955. He was commissioned as an ensign and was stationed in Pensacola, Fla., where he earned his aviator wings. In 1963 he received a master's degree in physics from the Naval Post Graduate School in Monterey, Calif, and in 1974 he graduated from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces.

Adm. Wolkensdorfer served in the Navy for more than 30 years, with several commands and most of his career in antisubmarine warfare. He was deputy assistant secretary of the Navy for antisubmarine warfare, commander of the Navy's Operational Test and Evaluation Force and director of logistics for the Naval Air Systems Command.

He also was program manager for antisubmarine warfare acquisition with the Naval Materiel Command, director of the ASW Requirements Development Division with the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations and commander of Maritime Patrol Squadrons in the Pacific Fleet.

He was a founding member of the Strategic Studies Group developing the Navy's maritime strategy. As a naval aviator, he had more than 8,000 flying hours with principal participation in intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance-related missions and activities.

In 2002 he joined the staff of the Applied Physics Laboratory at the University of Washington where he was the principal investigator for projects in support of antisubmarine warfare, primarily for naval aviation.

He received many commendations and held the Distinguished Service Medal and three awards of the Legion of Merit.

Surviving are his wife of 50 years, Carolyn Mingus Wolkensdorfer; two daughters, Judy Douglas of Annapolis and Mary Hovland of Fairfax, Va.; one son, Brian Wolkensdorfer of Shenandoah, Iowa; one sister, Jean Pochop of Atwood, Kan.; and seven grandchildren.

The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in McLean, Va., with burial at 9 a.m. July 20 in Arlington National Cemetery. Participants should meet at 8:30 a.m. at the Administration Building at the cemetery. Arrangements are by Barranco and Sons Severna Park Funeral Home. Online condolences may be made at www.barrancofuneralhome.com.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, 1545 Chain Bridge Road, McLean, VA 22101. As published in "The Capital Newspaper" Annapolis, MD 05/18/2006