Colonel (Ret.) Charles B. Giasson, known by all as “Chuck”, went to his eternal rest on January 13, 2024, in Fairfax, Virginia.
It’s rare to find one among us truly dedicated to the service of others. Chuck was such a man.
Adopted as a baby from a convent in Nevada, Chuck was raised in the glitz and glamor of the Las Vegas you see in the movies. His father ran part of the Desert Inn Casino on the strip, and Chuck played golf with celebrities and mingled with childhood favorites like Elvis, Walt Disney, and Sinatra. His mother was a journalist who instilled in him a dedication to writing, which would later serve in his endeavors after graduating from Bishop Gorman High School. Despite the excitement of the Vegas high life, the athletic and introspective young man would happen upon a series of books about West Point that left an indelible impression and set him on a trajectory of service that would carry on throughout his life.
With an appointment to the United States Military Academy, he crossed the country to the Highlands of New York in 1964 to begin his life’s journey. There the young cadet embraced the ethos “duty, honor, country”, and began writing a series of letters and reflections home that became a lifelong practice. Chuck would later share with his children many stories of cadet life, like waking up to “Reveille” (the famous morning bugle call), often reenacting the song to get them out of bed. Shaped and transformed by the Academy, the newly commissioned Lieutenant graduated in the Class of 1968 with a B.S. in engineering.
Chuck volunteered to go to Vietnam at the height of the war. Before boarding a plane to Saigon, he met his future wife, Phyllis, while on assignment in the 82nd Airborne Division. As a Signal Officer in Vietnam (2/22nd Mech. Infantry Battalion), he saw combat firsthand and was promoted to Captain during battle under enemy fire. Chuck quickly earned the reputation of being “by the book”, while always taking care of his troops. His combat experiences and letters were later documented in several books, including “Into Cambodia”.
Chuck led a distinguished military career spanning 26 years of service where he rose to the rank of Colonel, working all over the US, in Europe, China, and at the Pentagon. He served as a company commander in Germany, a Professor at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and worked as one of the first product managers to bring supercomputers to the Army. While on active duty, he earned an MBA and PhD (abd). His military decorations include the Legion of Merit, two Bronze Star medals, and numerous meritorious service medals.
A recognized expert in computer systems development and acquisition, he was hand-picked for multiple senior leadership positions in the Army. His career in Information Systems culminated as Deputy Program Executive Officer for Standard Army Management Information Systems (STAMIS) where he was cited for leading software productivity across the Army. In earlier assignments, he served as Project Manager in Tactical Management Information Systems (TACMIS), Small Computer Systems, and Deputy Project Manager, responsible for all Army telephone switching systems. He also served on the Army Staff in the office of the CIO/G6 overseeing more than 40 major Army IT programs.
Once his service to the country ended, Chuck retired to the world of business. He held senior positions in industry, including ten years as a Corporate Vice President in SAIC, nine years with Lucent Technologies (LGS), and many years as an independent consultant. Chuck was truly passionate about encouraging others to succeed. He was always first to volunteer and say “yes” when someone asked for help: family, friends, and colleagues alike. Chuck was richly rewarded with opportunity and good fortune by his simple acts of being present, being dedicated to the task, and being useful.
Chuck remained close to our veterans and service members by supporting the Wounded Warrior Project and the Code of Support Foundation. He said the young wounded vets were “so patriotic and positive that they inspire me to push myself in caring for them, despite my own battle. Watching their recovery and transition to a new life and job is incredibly satisfying.”
Deeply religious, Chuck served the community and the poor as a Fourth Degree member of the Knights of Columbus. He supported the West Point Mentor program, and Armed Forces Communications & Electronics Association (AFCEA) Educational programs, serving as Vice President of Education and Chapter President. He managed funding to promote STEM education and mentoring for over 33,000 students in Northern Virginia schools and awarded AFCEA scholarships to students and service members. Sharing in his family’s love of music, he sang in the West Point Alumni Glee Club and his church choir.
Above all, Chuck was a family man at heart, a dedicated husband and father. He showed his great capacity for love by spending all his extra time with his kids – from camping trips to cooking his famous breakfasts on the weekends. He instilled in them the importance of integrity, seeking opportunities, planning for the future, having mentors, and always taking care of family and others. He would show the same love and care for his grandchildren.
Later in life, he met his own health challenges head-on, continuing his lifelong love of exercise and activity. He golfed, skied, biked, and traveled the world with Phyllis and dear friends while he could, taking on a new role of mentoring others with the same illness. A fighter to the end, Chuck was grateful to God for the chance to serve a fulfilling, meaningful, and purposeful life. He leaves behind a rich legacy of family and friends, including his wife of 52 years, Phyllis, his four children, and four grandchildren.
"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith" (2 Timothy 4:7).
