Bruce James Campbell, of Ashburn VA, passed away on December 26th, 2023 at the Adler Center for Caring after losing his battle with cancer from Agent Orange exposure during the Vietnam War. He was 83 years old. He was born on September 10th, 1940 as the only child of Harry and Irma (Cloak) Campbell of Philadelphia, PA.

Bruce led an extraordinary life. In his younger years, he was an avid Boy Scout and eventually earned the rank of Eagle Scout. He attended the prestigious Central High School in Philadelphia, PA where he was a three sport athlete specializing in football. His football talent resulted in a scholarship to Penn State University, where he played for Rip Engle and was a member of the 1959 Liberty Bowl team that defeated Alabama. While at Penn State, Bruce enrolled in the Naval ROTC Program with the intention of becoming a Marine Corps Officer. Upon Graduation from PSU in 1963 with a Bachelors of Science in Industrial Management, Bruce was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps.

Bruce's six and a half years of military service and two tours as a Platoon Commander in Vietnam were foundational to his being and to his career and earned him multiple medals and commendations. He was honorably discharged in 1968 with the rank of Captain. Shortly thereafter, he was recruited by the National Communications System (NCS) in Washington, D.C., where he served as Assistant Manager of NCS Plans and Operations. He earned his Masters of Science in Technology of Management from The American University in 1971.

He was celebrating his graduation from AU when he met the love of his life, Mary (Marusiak) Campbell. Their first date was a Washington Redskins game. The two married in July of 1976. Shortly thereafter, Bruce attended the Program for Management Development at the Harvard University Graduate School of Business Administration. Bruce and Mary then welcomed their daughter Kristin in 1977.

In 1979, Bruce became one of the youngest Charter Members of the Senior Executive Service established by President Jimmy Carter. In 1982, he received the Secretary of Defense's Meritorious Civilian Service Medal, and then President Bush's Meritorious Executive Award in 1989. He spent the majority of his government career at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) where he served in various leadership positions throughout the agency, his last nine years as an Associate Director of Operations Support. After 41 years and 2 months of dedicated service to the United States Government and its people, Bruce retired from FEMA in 2003. He then continued his love of emergency management for many years as a private consultant.

Somehow during his distinguished and mainly classified career, Bruce managed to be a loving and loyal husband and father. He always made time for swim meets, chorus concerts, anniversary trips with his wife, Redskins games, and family trips to the Outer Banks of North Carolina. He was a beloved NVSL Official, an avid Washington sports fan, and later in life the best Papa his granddaughters could ask for.

Bruce was preceded in death by his parents, Harry and Irma Campbell, and his son, Scott Campbell (1979).

Bruce is survived by his wife of 47 years, Mary (Cis) Marusiak Campbell; his daughter Kristin Campbell Sheetz; his two granddaughters, Campbell M. Sheetz and Sydney A. Sheetz; his sisters-in-law and their husbands; and numerous nieces and nephews and their children.

Visitation will be held at Colonial Funeral Home in Leesburg, VA on Tuesday, January 9th, 2024 from 10:00-11:00 AM, followed by a memorial service. Burial will take place at 2:00 PM at Quantico National Cemetery in Triangle, VA.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund In Memory Program, which honors Vietnam Veterans who returned home and later died as a result of their service.