Paul C. McLellan, Jr.

Colonel, USAF (Ret.)

Paul died of natural causes in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA on the 8th of December 2025.

He was born on October 24, 1935 in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, the second son of Paul & Mildred McLellan descendants of John and Elizabeth Howland who were Mayflower pilgrims.

The majority of his childhood was spent in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. He was an engineering student at Brown University before entering the United States Naval Academy. Upon graduation with the class of 1958, he was commissioned into the Air Force. Shortly after, he married Beverly Beck in Baltimore, Maryland.

After completion of electronics and missile training in Mississippi and Florida, the young couple traveled to Taiwan to serve with the 868th Tactical Missile Squadron.

Assignments followed in Ohio, California, Alabama, Vietnam, and Washington D.C.

Before returning to California for his final duty as Program Director for the Navy's Fleet Satellite Communications System, Paul received numerous awards and decorations including the Legion of Merit and Bronze Star.

Retirement brought him to a second career in the aerospace industry at TRW, Hughes and Assuresat. Initially involved in complex classified satellite programs, Paul transferred to manage commercial satellites for the cable and broadcast industries including DirecTV. He was Vice President of Satellite Systems when he retired for the final time in 2003. During his military and commercial careers he participated in dozens of satellite launches.

In addition to Brown and USNA Paul was also a student at Harvard Business School and AFIT. He holds a Master’s Degree in Electrical Engineering.

During his retirement years Paul was active in his church and as a volunteer providing assistance to senior citizens. He enjoyed investing, philanthropy, raising orchids, golf, sailing and world travel with his wife of 67 years.

He is survived by his wife Beverly, his children Janice (Tim) Thornton and Mark (Shellye) McLellan, his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

A Memorial Service is being held at 10am on January 17th at Ascension Lutheran Church, 26231 Silver Spur Rd., Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275.

Inurnment will be at Arlington National Cemetery.