In Memoriam LCDR (Ret.) CALVIN G. HENDRIX

A TRIBUTE TO

LCDR (Ret) CALVIN G. HENDRIX

           LCDR (Ret) Calvin Gene Hendrix, a proud veteran of the United States Navy and Airforce Civil Service, was born Tuesday May 28, 1963, in Chiseldon, England to the late Billy Hendrix, USAF (Ret) Vietnam veteran and Wendy Hendrix-Kret. Calvin grew up in a military family, moving from place to place eventually settling in Panama City, FL. From Air Force brat to Navy Seaman - enlisted and officer retired (30-year Veteran) to Federal Civil Service, Mr. Calvin "Cal" Hendrix forged through life and over 40 years of service to his country with passion, determination, and an unmatched can-do attitude.

          At the age of 18, Calvin followed his father’s footsteps to serve his country and enlisted in the U.S. Navy as a Seaman (E-1). He valued his military service highly, serving aboard five submarines and three surface ships where he earned both Surface and Submarine Warfare breast insignia. As a Submarine Repair Officer, he attained the rank of LCDR (O-4) and was spot promoted to CMDR (O-5) before retiring in 2012. Calvin was selected for and completed the Navy Nuclear Power Training Pipeline, in addition to graduating with a 4.0 GPA (top 5% of his class) earning a B.S. from Thomas Edison University with a major in Engineering. Calvin’s most accomplished achievements in the Navy included serving humanitarian efforts in Africa and East Timor, in which he liaised with volunteer organizations, both international and local governments, while coordinating security for over 2,000 people in eight different countries. In addition, after serving a 2-year tour in Sardinia Italy, Calvin oversaw the closing of the 3,000-person NATO Naval base in La Maddalena, Italy, which included managing the 2nd largest underwater salvage and restoration project in history. Several years later, Calvin served as the Nuclear Repair Director at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, GA for seven nuclear power plants aboard fleet missile submarines successfully completing 100% of assigned repairs throughout 98 submarine refit periods. Calvin led his team to complete 400+ nuclear repairs with the lowest rework rate in Navy history (0.3%). To say Calvin was meticulous and sought challenges is an understatement. After retiring from the Navy, Calvin moved with his wife and two children to California, where he transitioned into Civil Service within the Airforce at Beale AFB. As the Deputy Base Civil Engineer, Calvin supported the 9th Reconnaissance Wing’s U-2 and Global Hawk reconnaissance aircraft missions. He advocated for much needed funding for the base, which ultimately obtained over one billion dollars, and aided in bringing three new missions to Beale AFB.

          When Cal Hendrix stepped foot on Beale Air Force Base (AFB) in 2015, no one could have imagined the impact he would have on the 9^th Reconnaissance Wing. Starting as the Element Chief in the 9th Civil Engineer Squadron's Requirements and Optimization section he immediately began making improvements to the sustainment and modernization of Beale AFB infrastructure. He noted the age and condition of the installation's 60+ year old electrical grid and made it his personal mission to bring a more dependable source of power to the Base from the Federal electrical grid. As the Deputy Base Civil Engineer, he brought engineers and shops together to forge an infrastructure master plan for the on-base electrical grid and secured the first ever Federal electric grid interconnection on Beale AFB. In 2016, with a core group of leadership and engineers, he masterminded the 9th Reconnaissance Wing's Facility Strategy setting course to optimize space use, divest of failing infrastructure, and posturing Beale AFB to deliver high-altitude ISR warfighting capabilities well into the future.

Cal put forth extreme effort advocating for Beale AFB infrastructure requirements funding at all levels of leadership, to include Group, Wing, Major Command, Air Force Civil Engineer Center, Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center, 16th AF, Headquarters Air Force, and the Secretary of the Air Force's staff. His talent for identifying infrastructure funding requirements and communicating the operational impacts should they go unfunded, garnered Beale AFB hundreds of millions of dollars in critical facilities projects and infrastructure upgrades.  He had a gift for reaching out, procuring and executing “other people’s money” in support of existing host-wing, tenant partner, and new mission requirements. The landscape of Beale AFB has been forever changed and is better postured for the future as a result of Cal's passion for and commitment to the installation.

Caring for people and ensuring livelihoods were better, Cal worked tirelessly in getting positions upgraded, improved the 9th Civil Engineer Squadron's awards program for military and civilians and had an open-door policy if you just ever ‘needed to talk’.  A colleague, a friend, a mentor, a teacher, a military brother – well intentioned in all he did. 

Calvin loved to travel and explore. He was an extrovert who sought out conversation and relationships at every opportunity. In 1999, Calvin met his lovely wife Jannet while stationed at Bangor Naval Submarine Base in Washington State. They were married in 2001 at Two Lover’s Point while Calvin was stationed in Guam on the USS Frank Cable. They married again one year later with friends and family in Fallbrook, CA. Their first son, James was born four years later at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Gricignano di Aversa (Naples) Italy. Shortly thereafter, their second son, Ryan was born at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Jacksonville, FL.

LCDR (Ret) Calvin G. Hendrix passed away unexpectedly on 29 DEC 2023 at Sutter Hospital in Auburn CA where he was receiving medical care for severe pneumonia, ultimately passing due to a pulmonary embolism. His loss will be felt deeply within the 9th Civil Engineer Squadron and across Beale AFB. Cal was a critical pillar within the Beale AFB community, a leader within the Civil Engineer Career Field, a veteran U.S. Naval Officer, a devoted husband, loving father and caring friend to many. 

In lieu of flowers, the Hendrix family requests any monetary donations be made to the Fisher House Foundation. This organization delivered tremendous support to the Hendrix family during the birth of their first son 18 years ago. The Fisher House Foundation provided a place to stay, diapers, formula and anything else they needed during Jannet's several month-long hospitalization away from home. 

A donation goal of $9K has been set in honor of Cal's nearly 9 years of service to the 9th Reconnaissance Wing as part of the 9th Civil Engineer Squadron's Rhino Family.