David Raymond Jazdyk

May 4, 1963 – November 13, 2021
USN,CDR (RET) David R. Jazdyk passed away on November 13, 2021 after a 3 year battle with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Dave was born in Chicago, IL on May 4, 1963. Commander David “Jaz” Jazdyk attended the University of Houston graduating with a BS in Electrical Engineering in 1987.  Jaz was commissioned as a Navy officer and after flight training with the VT-10 “Cosmic Cats” at Naval Air Station Pensacola, FL and VAW-110 “Firebirds” at Naval Air Station Miramar, CA was designated an E-2 Hawkeye Naval Flight Officer (NFO) and assigned to VAW-115 “Liberty Bells” stationed at Naval Air Facility Atsugi, JAPAN flying off CV-41 USS Midway.  While attached to VAW-115, Jaz participated in multiple deployments to the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean in support of national security objectives, achieving qualification as a Combat Information Center Officer and Mission Commander.  In October 1990, Jaz deployed with VAW-115 to participate in Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm, flying multiple combat missions as part of the air campaign to liberate Kuwait from Iraqi armed forces.
Following his tour with VAW-115, Jaz returned to Naval Air Station Miramar, CA for shore duty as an E-2 Hawkeye NFO instructor with VAW-110.  Jaz did an abbreviated tour at VAW-110 and returned to the University of Houston for graduate school, completing his MS in Electrical Engineering before returning to sea duty in 1995.
For his second sea duty, Jaz returned to VAW-115 as a senior lieutenant, flying off CV-62 USS Independence and providing valuable insight into operation employment of the E-2 Hawkeye to train and mentor junior aircrew during multiple deployments.
After his second tour with VAW-115, Jaz reported to the Defense Language Institute in Monterrey, CA for Japanese language training.  This experience was followed by assignment to the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) Command and Staff College in Tokyo, JAPAN.  After completing JMSDF Command and Staff College and NFO refresher training with the VAW-120 “Grey Hawks” at Naval Air Station Norfolk, VA, Jaz again reported to VAW-115 now flying off CV-63 USS Kitty Hawk and served as a squadron department head through numerous deployments.
Following his department head tour, CDR Jazdyk’s final assignment on active duty was as Regional Director and Officer-in-Charge for the Office of Naval Research (ONR) in Tokyo, JAPAN, coordinating advanced technical research project funding throughout Asia.
After retirement Dave landed his dream job at NASA as the Chief, Information Assurance DOD Space Test Program Human Spaceflight Payloads.
During his career he loved being in Japan which is where he met his wife Michiyo and their daughters were born. He also loved to travel and was able to take the family to many places including Guam, Singapore, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, Korea, London and Hong Kong as well as Hawaii.
He was preceded in death by his brother Peter Jazdyk and father-in-law Fumio Ichiyoshi. He is survived by his wife of 25 years Michiyo (Ichiyoshi) Jazdyk, his daughters, Keana and Teana Jazdyk; parents, Ray and Arlene (Glapa) Jazdyk; sister Susan McKay and brother LTC Michael Jazdyk Retired US Army; his mother-in-law Kazuko Ichiyoshi and his sisters-in-law Miho Inui and Mayumi Aoki.
Friends are cordially invited to the visitation with the family on Monday, November 22, 2021 from 3:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M. at Jeter Memorial Funeral Home, 311 N. Friendswood Dr., Friendswood, TX 77546 (281) 992-7200.
He will be cremated with interment at the Houston National Cemetery, Houston, TX. In lieu of flowers and condolences please consider donating to the ALS Association of Texas.