Born: United States of America
Primarily active in: United States of America

Robert Lee (Bob) Parnell, Jr. was a retired Marine Corps colonel and a longtime member and officer of the AHS Federal City Chapter. Colonel Parnell retired from the Marine Corps in 1972 after a 30-year military career.  He was a fighter pilot and he served in World War II, the Korean War, and in the Vietnam conflict.  He commanded a Marine fighter squadron in California and in the Far East.  His military decorations included a Legion of Merit, Air Medal, Navy Commendation Medal and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry.  He graduated from Princeton University and attended the Navy Postgraduate School.  On his military retirement, he joined Rockwell International's Washington office as a program manager.  He became active with AHS during these years in broadening the Society's student outreach programs.  In 1987, he retired from its missile systems division in Washington as director of government marketing.

Mr. Parnell died on August 19, 1996 of mesothelioma, a form of lung cancer induced by asbestos. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors.

AHS Update: Vertiflite September/October 1996