John Grayson Grimes

John Grayson Grimes, 87, of Frederick, Maryland, died on Friday, April 14, 2023 at his home in Frederick surrounded by his family. He was the loving husband of Constance J. "Connie" Grimes. They were married for six years, but together for 15. 

Born on October 29, 1935, in Lewistown, he was the son of  the late Ira Staley Grimes and Wilma (Burrier) Grimes.

Mr. Grimes was a graduate of the University of Arizona, and received a Master of Science Degree from Shippensburg University in Pennsylvania. He was a graduate of the U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania; the Federal Executive Institute, Charlottesville, Virginia; and Harvard University's National and International Security Policy Program. Additionally, he was the recipient of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Command, Control, Communications and Intelligence Award, among other public, military and Federal civil service awards to include two Presidential Rank awards. 

Mr. Grimes was nominated by President Bush on June 17, 2005 and sworn in as the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Networks and Information Integration (ASD NII) / Department of Defense Chief Information Officer (CIO) on November 14, 2005. Mr. Grimes had extensive technical and policy experience in telecommunications, information systems and the command and control fields. 

His public service included five years on the White House National Security Council Staff as Director for National Security Telecommunications Policy, Director of Defense Command, Control and Communications Programs, and Senior Director White House situation Support Staff from 1984-1990. Mr. Grimes served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for defense-wide Command, Control and Communications and was the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Counterintelligence and Security Countermeasures from 1990 to 1994. As a member of the DoD senior executive service (SES), he held senior technical and staff positions with the National Communications System, Defense Communications Agency (predecessor to DISA), and the U.S. Army Communications command following his military service in the U.S. Air Force. 

Mr. Grimes joined Raytheon Company in 1994 where he served as Vice President of Intelligence and Information Systems, Washington Operations, prior to retiring in November 2005. Mr. Grimes had served on four Defense Science Board (DSB) Task Forces. He was a member of the Industry Executive Subcommittee of the President's National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee (NSTAC).

He was a life-long member of Lewistown United Methodist Church. He traveled extensively with his job and met many world leaders over the years. Of all the places he had traveled to over the years, Hawaii was one of his favorites. 

Family was the most important thing to Mr. Grimes, and, in later years, he returned home to Frederick to be closer to his family.

In additional to his wife, Connie, he is survived by two daughters, Tammy Schubel of Knoxville, and Terree Long and fiancé, Joe Ketterman, of Frederick; three step-sons, Daniel Offenbacker and wife, Martha, of Texas; Michael Offenbacker and wife, Trisha, of Alaska; and Stephen Offenbacker and wife, Brittany, of Texas; four grandchildren, Sean Schubel and wife, Katie, of New Zealand, Rusty Long and wife, Beth, of Sykesville, Randi Wenner and fiancé, DJ, of Frederick, Joey Ketterman and wife, Angie, of Frederick; eight great-grandchildren, Hailey, Michael, Kaitlyn, Alyssa, Kira, Parker, Morgan, and Maddux; four siblings; Sity Grimes Roach and husband, Don, of New Mexico, Ruthie Grimes McKinney of Frederick, Jim Grimes and wife, Elsie, of Frederick; and Bob Grimes and wife, Carolyn, of West Virginia; numerous nieces, nephews, good friends and colleagues.

The family would like to thank the team with Frederick Health Hospice for the loving care given to Mr. Grimes.

The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, April 19, 2023 at Stauffer Funeral Homes, P.A., 1621 Opossumtown Pike in Frederick, MD.

A celebration of his life journey will take place at 11:00 am on Thursday, April 20, 2023, from the funeral home chapel. Officiating will be Pastor Mark Claiborne Sr. and Pastor Bruce Merton.

Interment will follow at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Frederick.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Prostate Cancer Foundation, 1250 Fourth Street, Santa Monica, CA 9040, pcf.org; Lewistown United Methodist Church, 11032 Hessong Bridge Rd, Thurmont, MD 21788; or Wounded Warrior Project at support.woundedwarriorproject.org.

Expressions of sympathy may be offered to the family at StaufferFuneralHome.com.