Richard Patrick O'Neill

Captain Richard Patrick O'Neill ,USN (ret) passed away peacefully in the arms of his beloved wife Deborah on December 28, 2023. He is survived by his son Gene O'Neill and wife Kristen, his brother James O'Neill and his sister, Kate O'Neill Cook as well as his cherished grandchildren Sean, Rocco and Skye O'Neill, a niece Lauren Cook, and nephews Drew Cook and Casey O'Neill.

He graduated from the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA in 1969 with a degree in Political Science. It was this college that provided him with lifetime friends and a foundation of faith that he embraced for a lifetime. His plan to attend University of Virginia School of Architecture was sidelined when he received his draft notice in the summer of 1969. He reported for duty at Great Lakes and upon completion of Basic Training , he was assigned to Radioman School in Newport, R.I. where he later entered Officers Candidate School. Starting as an Ensign, he rose to the rank of Captain and served in aviation squadrons and shore sites all around the world, including Commanding Officer of the Naval Security Group Activity, Kunia, Hawaii and ultimately the staff of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Command, Control. Communication and Intelligence, where his vision and experience provided critical insights to a rapidly changing world. His consummate professional expertise and bold leadership garnered him numerous personal awards including the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, three awards of the Meritorious Service Medal and the Air Medal.

After leaving the Navy in 1998, Dick and Deborah founded the Highlands Group, a multi-disciplinary resource supporting a long list of distinguished clients across the globe. Dick spearheaded a series of conferences called The Highlands Forum. It was at these gatherings that O'Neill continued to ensure that Defense Department leadership would be exposed to non-intuitive takes on topics that he forecast would become active concerns for National security officials. In 2002, the O'Neills were invited to Singapore where they assisted in launching the first of several Island Forums and later the International Risk and Horizon Scanning Symposium (IRAHSS) and Foresight Conference.

Dick was a one-of-a kind; a quiet patriot, comfortable seeking out those with differing beliefs or complex, interesting points of view. He taught us to be humble, curious and open to new ideas, especially those that challenged our preconceptions. He was learning, and sharing that knowledge with colleagues, up until the very last days of his remarkable life.

Dick will be remembered as a generous man with the sort of kindness that resides deep within, not artifice, but a genuine care and respect for fellow human beings.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, January 13, 2023 at 10:30am at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church 9200 Kentsdale Drive Potomac, MD 20854. A reception will follow at Congressional Country Club 8500 River Road Bethesda, MD 20817.

In Lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation.