More detail on this person: Tommy Everett
Payne,70, died July 23. Born May 16, 1942 in
Maryville, TN to the late Everett and Hallie Payne
of Knoxville, TN, Tom grew up in south Knoxville's
Mount Olive area, was an Eagle Scout and
graduated from Young High School in 1960. He was
President of his high school senior class, captain
of the football team and voted Mr. Young High
School. He was awarded a Congressional
appointment to the US Naval Academy in
Annapolis, where he graduated in Electrical
Engineering and received his commission as
Ensign in 1966. After the Naval Academy, Tom
graduated from flight school in Pensacola, Florida
and completed two western Pacific deployment
tours as a Search and Rescue helicopter pilot. He
was awarded two Air Medals and the Vietnam Air
Gallantry Medal for combat support rescues of
downed pilots and wounded soldiers under enemy
fire. Tom left Navy active duty in 1974 to join
IBM Federal Systems in Owego, NY continuing his
development and test work for the LAMPS anti-ship,
anti-submarine surveillance and targeting
helicopter program. He had been the Program
Officer and Chief Test Pilot for that program. Tom
continued his military service in the United
States Naval Reserve in the intelligence field
serving as Administrative Office, Executive
Officer and Commanding Officer of the Naval
Intelligence Command Security group 0166. Tom
retired as a Navy Captain in 1999.
Tom completed his MBA at State University of New
York, Binghamton, and continued his civilian
career at IBM on classified programs at Rosslyn,
VA, then at Lockheed Martin in Gaithersburg,
becoming the Director of Engineering on major FAA
upgrade programs. Tom retired from Lockheed in
2004 subsequently taking positions of Vice
President at DISC, then VP Integration Technology
and Automation Programs at UFA, then as Senior
Director FAA SOS-7 Programs at ASRC in Egg
Harbor Township, NJ. Tom's worked with several
classmates implementing and leading the Veterans
Individual Training Assistance Link (VITAL TM) at
Bethesda Naval Hospital to help wounded, severely
Ill and injured Marines, sailors and other service
members prepare for transition to civilian life.
Tom's enjoyed hunting and fishing.
Tom is survived by his wife, Donna Payne of Media,
PA.; two sons, Jeff Payne of Browns Summit, NC
and Kevin Payne of Aurora, CO; two daughters,
Lisa Yates of Bell Buckle, TN and Kristi Miracle
of Powell, TN; two brothers, Mike Payne of
Seymour, TN and John Payne of Rockwall, TX; two
sisters, Susie Payne and Pete Kerr, both of
Knoxville, TN; nine grandchildren, Josh, Jeremy
and Emily Yates, Tyler Wood, Forrester, Anna,
Bradley and Brody Payne and Spencer Miracle; two
step-children, Eric Knapp and Kelly Logan Services
are to be held 10 a.m., Monday, August 27 at the
Naval Academy in Annapolis. Interment in the US
Naval Academy Columbarium.
Tom requested that any donations in his name be
made to the Navy Seal Foundation
(www.navysealfoundation.org), or the USNA 50th
Reunion Class Project. Information can be found at
www.USNA.com Arrangements entrusted to James
M. Brower Online condolences www.msbfh.com
Published in The Capital on July 29, 2012
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
Please send additions or corrections to: HQ@vhpa.org VHPA Headquarters
Return to the Helicopter Pilot DAT name list
Return to VHPA web site
Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024
Copyright © 1998 - 2024 Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association