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SUBJ/PASSING OF VADM LANDO W. ZECH, USN(RET)// GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  IT IS WITH 
DEEP SADNESS THAT I REPORT THE PASSING OF AN OUTSTANDING NAVAL OFFICER, VICE 
ADMIRAL LANDO W. ZECH, USN
(RET) ON 9 JANUARY 2011.  VADM ZECH WAS A HERO, WONDERFUL HUSBAND AND FATHER, 
AND AN INSPIRATION TO US ALL.  WHILE THE NAVY FAMILY HAS LOST A GREAT MAN, WE 
CELEBRATE HIS REMARKABLE LIFE.

2.  VADM ZECH SERVED HONORABLY FOR OVER 39 YEARS IN THE NAVY AFTER HIS 
GRADUATION FROM THE NAVAL ACADEMY IN 1944 WITH THE WORLD WAR II CLASS OF 1945.  
HIS FIRST ASSIGNMENT WAS THE USS JOHN D. HENLEY (DD
553) IN THE WESTERN PACIFIC WHERE HE PARTICIPATED IN THE SECOND BATTLE FOR THE 
PHILIPPINES, THE IWO JIMA AND OKINAWA CAMPAIGNS AND ON PICKETT STATION DUTY 
OFF THE COAST OF JAPAN DURING THE LAST DAYS OF THE WAR. AFTER THE WAR AND A 
SECOND DESTROYER TOUR ABOARD THE USS HENRY W. TUCKER (DD 875), VADM ZECH 
VOLUNTEERED FOR SUBMARINE DUTY AND SUBSEQUENTLY COMMANDED FOUR SUBMARINES, USS 
SEA ROBIN (SS 407), USS ALBACORE (AGSS 569), AND AFTER NUCLEAR POWER TRAINING, 
USS NAUTILUS (SSN 571) AND USS JOHN ADAMS (SSBN 620).  HE LATER COMMANDED THE 
GUIDED MISSILE CRUISER USS SPRINGFIELD (CLG 7).  AS A FLAG OFFICER HE SERVED 
AS COMMANDANT OF THE THIRTEENTH NAVAL DISTRICT; CHIEF OF NAVAL TECHNICAL 
TRAINING; COMMANDER U.S. NAVAL FORCES, JAPAN; DEPUTY CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS 
FOR MANPOWER, PERSONNEL AND TRAINING AND FINALLY AS CHIEF OF NAVAL PERSONNEL.

3.  AFTER RETIREMENT, HIS SERVICE DID NOT END.  HE WAS APPOINTED A 
COMMISSIONER AND LATER CHAIRMAN OF THE U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION BY 
PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN.  HE CONTINUED HIS SERVICE IN INDUSTRY FOCUSED ON 
NUCLEAR SAFETY AND REGULATION.

4.  VADM ZECH IS SURVIVED BY HIS WIFE OF SIXTY ONE YEARS, JOSEPHINE, FIVE 
DAUGHTERS, 12 GRANDCHILDREN AND THREE GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN.
PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO REMEMBER THIS GREAT MAN AND SAILOR.

5.  RELEASED BY ADMIRAL G. ROUGHEAD, CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS.//

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