The Museum Mourns the Loss of Captain Ron Yeaw

The Museum mourns the passing of Captain Ron Yeaw on June 21, 2021.

A native of Media, Pennsylvania, Captain Yeaw graduated from Penncrest High School in 1961. He received his Bachelor of Arts Degree with Honors in Economics from Grove City College in northwest Pennsylvania in1965. His 50-year professional career is highlighted by his 30 years of service in the Navy where he completed three operational platoon combat tours to the Republic of Vietnam with SEAL Team TWO.

He subsequently filled such positions as Chief of Staff of the Joint Special Operations Command in Fort Bragg, NC and Commanding Officer of both Underwater Demolition Team TWENTY ONE and SEAL Team SIX, the world’s premier commando force. He served two tours in the Pentagon on the Special Operations staffs of the Secretary of Defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He earned a Master’s Degree in National Security Affairs from the Navy Postgraduate School, attended the Navy War College, and was the president of his class at the National War College.

Ron retired as a Captain in 1995 after having been awarded 45 medals and ribbons including the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Navy Legion of Merit, 2 Defense and 3 Navy Meritorious Service Medals, the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, seven Vietnam Campaign Medals, nine individual commendation medals with the Combat “V” for valor, including four Bronze Stars and the Purple Heart for multiple fragmentation grenade wounds.

Following his Navy career, Ron served seven years with the multi-million dollar Research Planning Corporation professional services firm in Falls Church, Virginia. His service included duty as a Program Manager, Director of the Marketing Department and Vice President of the Installations Operation Division. Following his relocation to Florida, Ron concluded his professional career in 2015 following 13 years with the G4S Professional Armed Security Corporation including service as the Site Security Manager for two upscale gated residential communities.

In 2012, Captain Yeaw was recognized as a Distinguished Graduate of Penncrest High School and was inducted into the Rose Tree Media School District Hall of Fame. In 2017, he was presented with the Jack Kennedy Memorial Alumni Achievement Award by Grove City College.

Captain Yeaw was recognized as a Project Lifesaver International Ambassador in 2017 and was appointed as the Director of Ambassador Relations in 2020. Captain Yeaw lived with his wife Shelley in Port St. Lucie, Florida. She, their twin children, and two grandchildren–along with his countless friends and his Teammates–mourn this great loss.