Michael Philip Evans

Michael Philip Evans, age 54, of Falls Church, Virginia, passed away peacefully at home on October 26, 2022, surrounded by his family. Michael was born on May 16, 1968 to Mary Rose Reeder and Philip Burnham Evans in Athens, GA. Michael grew up in Arlington, VA and Morgantown, WV, graduating as a National Merit Finalist from Morgantown High School in 1986. Michael matriculated at West Virginia University, where he was a member of the honors program and a resident advisor. Michael met his wife, Gretchen, in his first semester at WVU in German class, which began his family’s lifelong connection to the language and culture of that country. Michael earned an ROTC scholarship during his sophomore year, and held first positon on the order of merit list for academic excellence his three years in the program. He graduated Summa Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa in 1990 with a degree in History and a commission in the U.S. Army as a second lieutenant. Following marriage to his wife, Gretchen Elizabeth Krantz, at Ft. Meyer, VA, in August 1990, he was assigned to the officer’s basic course at the field artillery school at Ft. Sill, OK. He continued his training at The Defense Language Institute in Monterey, CA, earning certification as an Advanced Military Linguist in German. Assignments followed in Germany with the Third Infantry Division, first with the 5/41 Field Artillery in Schweinfurt, Germany as a fire support officer for the 3/4 Cavalry, later as the Division’s military liaison officer in Wuerzburg, Germany. Michael attended Advanced Officer Training at Ft. Huachuca, AZ, earned his airborne wings at Ft. Benning, GA, and finished his military career as an intelligence officer for the Third Special Forces Group at Ft. Bragg, NC in 1997. Military decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Airborne Wings, National Defense Medal, Army Achievement Medal, and Army Commendation Medal. Michael entered the U.S. Foreign Service as a Consular Officer in January 1998. His first assignment to Yaoundé, Cameroon included such highlights as the eruption of Mt. Cameroon in March 1999, victory of the Indomitable Lions in the 2000 Olympics, and a threat of expulsion from the country for consorting with political opposition. Subsequent posts as a junior officer included Frankfurt, Germany, where his first son, Jack, was born, and Hong Kong, S.A.R. Michael served as the Consular Chief at the U.S. Embassy in Accra, Ghana, where he earned his first nomination for Consular Officer of the Year. Highlights of his four years in Accra include the birth of his second son, George and serving as a control officer for President Obama’s first visit to Africa to Ghana in June 2009. Returning to Washington, DC in 2011, Michael earned a Master’s Degree at the National Defense University in 2012 and served in the Bureau of Intelligence and Research as the Deputy Director for Terrorism, Narcotics, and Crime from 2012-2014. His final overseas assignment was as the Consular Chief at the U.S. Consulate in Mumbai, India. Returning to Washington in 2018, Michael was promoted to the rank of Counselor in the Senior Foreign Service, and served as Director, Post Analysis and Support Division, Office of the Executive Director, Bureau of Consular Affairs and Deputy Director of the National Vetting Center, where he was nominated a second time for Consular Officer of the Year during the global Covid-19 pandemic. Michael retired in September 2021. Michael is survived by his wife, Gretchen E. Krantz Evans, of Falls Church, VA, sons Jack and George, his parents, Philip B. Evans (Daniele) of Le Pradal, France, Mary R. White (Ralph) of Williamsburg, VA, his brother Daniel J. Evans (Kimberly) of Madison, WI, his in-laws Col. William A. Krantz (Alice) of Williamsburg, VA, Dr. William A. Krantz, Jr. (Allison) of Morgantown, WV, Heidi K. Boyd (Jay) of Shepherdstown, WV, nephews Alex, Jacob, and Ethan and nieces Gabrielle, Lauren, and Lena. He was preceded in death by his son, Henry David Evans in 2007. He is also survived by the many members of his Foreign Service Family, including friends, mentors, and foreign service nationals who served with him. Of particular note are the many younger FSOs whom Michael mentored and supported as they built careers within what he regarded as the most important and amazing profession one could have. Michael was a member of the German Catholic Mission of Washington, DC, the American Foreign Service Association, WVU Alumni Association, and Phi Beta Kappa. An avid hiker, camper, and outdoorsman, he belonged to the Isaak Walton League and the Appalachian Trail Club. Visitation will be at Murphy’s in Falls Church, VA from 4-8 p.m. on Tuesday, November 15, 2022. A Catholic Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Our Lady of Mercy in Potomac, MD on Wednesday, November 16, 2022 from 12:50PM to 2PM with a wake following. Interment with military honors will be at Culpeper National Cemetery at 1 p.m. on Thursday, November 17. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Shenandoah National Park Trust to support Michael’s favorite place. The service will be streamed at https://vimeo.com/766928373. The family wishes to thank Drs. Julie Brahmer and Kristin Redmond and their dedicated teams at the Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, MD.