Frederick Roberts Crawford

Frederick Roberts Crawford June 14,1942 to January 27, 2026 Captain Frederick Roberts Crawford USN (retired) Passed away on January 27th at home following a battle with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF). Fred was born on June 14th (Flag Day) 1942 to Phyllis Lenor (Roberts) Crawford and Marion Browning Crawford in Cleveland, Ohio. The family moved to Hillsborough, CA in 1949. He attended Hillsborough Grade School and San Mateo High School. He lettered in Basketball (3 years), Wrestling (3 years), Track (4 years) and was Student Body President in his Senior year. Fred reported for duty at USNA in July 1960 and graduated with an engineering degree in 1964. While attending the Naval Academy Fred wrestled for the Midshipmen in the 123lb weight class and placed 4th in the Eastern Intercollegiate Tournament twice. He was selected by Admiral Rickover for the Submarine Service and attended Nuclear Power school in Mare Island CA followed by Nuclear Prototype (S3G) in West Milton NY, which then led him to Submarine School in Groton CT. Fred met his future wife Donna Raye Foxwell in April 1964, and they married at the USNA Chapel on February 5, 1965. About a year later he reported to the USS Techumseh (SSBN-628) Gold Crew in March 1966. In June 1968 Fred reported for duty as training officer at the Naval Nuclear Training Unit (S3G) in West Milton NY, took the Naval Reactors Engineers exam in June 1969, and then reported to the USS Grayling (SSN-646) as Engineer in June 1970. Fred then went to the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey CA where he earned a master’s degree in Underwater Acoustics. In November 1975 Fred became XO of the USS Permit (SSN 594) and later in August 1979 became CO of the USS Hawkbill (SSN-666). In February 1982 Fred joined the Third Fleet Staff and 5 years later he took over duties as Commander at the Submarine Training Facility in San Diego. In August 1989 Fred became Commander of the Integrated Surveillance System Pacific prior to his last tour of duty from July 1991 to April 1994 at the Pentagon as part of the Submarine Staff OP-24. Upon retirement from the Navy in 1994 Fred went to work for Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. After two years, Fred joined BWXT to write proposals for Hanford National Laboratory in Richland, WA. Upon securing the contract, he became Director of the Plutonium Finishing Plant. He subsequently worked on the contract for Los Alamos National Laboratory in NM and later went to work at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory Y-12 in TN as the Director of the Plutonium Manufacturing Plant. Fred returned to Los Alamos as Director of Facilities before returning to BWXT as a trouble shooter for sites in need of assistance. Upon retiring from BWXT he went to work for the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA). At IDA Fred focused on Nuclear Matters to include the study of the effects of Electronic Magnetic Pulses (EMP) on ships. Since retiring from IDA Fred became very active in our church (Pohick Episcopal Church). He served on the Vestry as Junior Warden and facilitated the renovations of the Parish Hall and kitchen to include the updating of electrical panels. Fred was an instructor for the Docent Guild, Leader of the Security Team, and was a member of the Brotherhood of Saint Andrew, Choir, and Docents. Fred is survived by his wife Donna, son Steven, son Michael and daughter-in-law Maureena, daughter Dawn, bonus-daughter Melissa and bonus-son-in-law Larry, grandchildren McKenna and Max, and bonus-grandchildren Patrick, Nicholas, Brandyn and Xavier. Fred’s viewing will be at the Miller Funeral Home, 3200 Golansky Blvd, Woodbridge VA 22192 from 5:30 to 8PM on February 14 and his Celebration of Life will be at Pohick Episcopal Church, 9301 Richmond Highway, Lorton VA 22079 on February 15 at 2PM. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Pohick Episcopal Church, 9301 Richmond Highway, Lorton, Va 22079.

Tributes

Frederick Roberts Crawford

January 27, 2026