Colonel Philip R. "Rod" Shaw

COLONEL PHILIP R. “ROD” SHAW (USAF RET) August 12, 1949 – January 26, 2021 Colonel Philip R. “Rod” Shaw (USAF RET), age 71, succumbed to a lengthy fight with cancer Tuesday, January 26, 2021, at his home in Woodbridge, Virginia, with his wife Ruth by his side. Mr. Shaw is survived by his wife of 29 years, Ruth A. Shaw; his three children, Brian D. Shaw (Fiancé Cheryl Neel); Dane A. Shaw (Wife Katie); and Michelle Samano (Husband Adisen); as well as seven grandchildren: grandsons A.J. Samano, Aiden P. Samano, Evan E. Samano; granddaughters Juliana P. Shaw, Mia E. Shaw, E. Brooke Shaw, and Caroline R. Shaw, and his three brothers, C. Wayne Shaw (Wife Esther), Timothy E. Shaw (Wife Lisseth), and C. Randolph Shaw. Mr. Shaw enjoyed the blessings of a host nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins, as well as life-long friends considered family he made during his life in military service. He was preceded in death by his father, Ether Clinton Shaw; mother, LouElla Jenkins Shaw Ward; and step-father, Donald Ward. Mr. Shaw loved the Lord, his family and his country, where he served in the Department of Defense for over 45 years, which included 30 years in uniform where he achieved the rank of full (Bird) Colonel and then 15 years as a senior civilian (GS-15 or Colonel equivalent). Originally from Perry, FL, Mr. Shaw was a career officer in the United States Air Force. He was commissioned in 1971 and served in the Air Force for 30 years where he was a Senior Navigator, a Weapons System Officer in the F-4E Phantom with more than 1700 flying hours, and a Group Commander. Mr. Shaw then served as the Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff, Plans and Policy, Headquarters Air South, Naples, Italy. His final military assignment was as Chief of the Europe/NATO/Eurasia Division, Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of the Air Force International Affairs, Pentagon, Washington, D.C., where he led a division that formulated policy and developed USAF positions on international issues impacting US politico-military relations with fifty-five countries in Europe and Eurasia, and with all members of NATO. He coordinated directly with senior USAF Secretariat, Office of the Secretary of Defense, State Department, Congress, and foreign government officials on international security issues. He represented the Secretary of the Air Force and the Chief of Staff in executive-level negotiations with senior foreign officials and briefs ministerial-level officials. Mr. Shaw retired from active duty in September 2004 and six months later began government service as a civilian employee for the Department in the Air Force in March 2005. Following fifteen additional years of further service for International Affairs as Chief of the Programming and Resources Division Operations and Resources Directorate, Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of the Air Force, the Pentagon, Washington D.C., Mr. Shaw retired in August, 2019. During his 45 years of service, Mr. Shaw was honored with the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit with one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal with two Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters, as well as the Air Force Commendation Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters. Additionally, in 2005, Mr. Shaw was awarded the Air Force Excellence Award, and in 2010 with the Meritorious Civilian Service Award. In addition to his dedication to serving his country through the United States Air Force and as a Department of Defense employee, Mr. Shaw’s lifelong passions were his devotion to his children and grandchildren; his wife; maturing his Christian Faith; helping the less fortunate, and encouraging others. Being in the great open wilderness, hunting and fishing, enjoying family and friends, good food and music – were Mr. Shaw’s most favorite pursuits of happiness. A military memorial service for Mr. Shaw will be held: Saturday, February 27, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. Calvary Baptist Church 2959 Golf Course Road Perry, FL 32348 (850) 223-1543 www.calvarybcp.com The family will receive visitors at the church starting at 12:00 p.m. *For those who may not be able to attend, but would like to view the memorial service for Mr. Shaw, the service will be live-streamed from the church by clicking on the hyperlink below: calvarybcp.com/live-stream or at facebook.com/calvarybcp * It is the practice that masks will be worn; there will be masks available to those who may not possess one in protection of all persons attending. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to: • • Calvary Baptist Church https://calvarybcp.com/give • • Wounded Warrior Project https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org/default.aspx?tsid=10201&ovr_acv_id=6738&campaignSource=EMAIL&source=AD19001 If you would like the family to receive an acknowledgement of the contribution, Click Make this a gift in honor or memory of an individual and enter the Honor/Memory Acknowledgement Information at the bottom of the form. • • The American Cancer Society https://www.cancer.org/involved/donate.html • • Heartland Hospice Care of Fairfax, Virginia https://heartlandhospicefund.org/

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Colonel Philip R. "Rod" Shaw

January 26, 2021