Capt. Wayne L. Beech (RET) spent more than 25 years working in advanced science and high technology and their application to U.S. national security. Captain Beech retired from the Navy in 1983 after 32 years of service. His activities included support to the Office of Military Application, the Office of Arms Control, and the Office of Intelligence, U.S. Department of Energy . This included support in the areas of intelligence, foreign nuclear weapon design, threat assessment and environmental activities. He supported extensive high level and policy support in theater and tactical nuclear weapons, nuclear weapon research and development, testing of nuclear and directed energy weapons, and security of nuclear weapons. As Associate Director of Military Application for the DOE, Captain Beech had broad responsibilities for the US nuclear weapons program including work with the Department of Defense and other government agencies. As a recognized expert in the field of nuclear weapons and strategic policy and planning, he was chosen to participate in the Strategic Defense Initiatives (SDI) program, nuclear treaty negotiation support, and arms control and non-proliferation activities. Captain Beech also served as the Director in the Division of Research, Development and Testing for the Energy Research and Development Administration (ERDA) within DOE. He had responsibilities for the direction of research, development and testing of nuclear weapons, preparation of the nuclear weapons test program, and nuclear weapons stockpile paper for Presidential approval. Because of his background in the DOE and DOD, he was selected as one of the study group chairmen on a major study to Improve the Nuclear Weapons Program. Captain Beech also served with NATO at Special Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) in Mons, Belgium and had command and combat experience with the US Navy including as Commander of the USS ROARK during pre-commissioning construction, shakedown training and first operations. He was also a Deputy Commander of a River Patrol Force during combat operations in the Vietnam War. He was a Graduate of Georgia Tech University and the Advanced Science Program of the US Naval Postgraduate School in Monterrey, CA. He is survived by his wife Maryellen Pritchard Beech of Leesburg, VA, sons Clark Beech (and wife Maureen Beech) of Cleveland TN, Michael Pritchard (and wife Rachel Pritchard) of Ashburn, VA and John Pritchard of Reston, VA and 8 grandchildren, Erica, Jessica, Taylor, Jacob, Noah, Eliana, Seth and Zachary. Captain Beech also had another son, Robert Beech of Atlanta, GA, who preceded him in 1998. Services will be held at Arlington National Cemetery, Ft Myer Chapel on Monday, December 27,2010 at 1:00 pm with full military honors. Those wishing to attend the service are requested to arrive approximately half hour early due to security clearance. A reception will follow the ceremony at the Fort Myers Officer's Club.