Col. Baldwin L. Troutman Jr.

Col Baldwin L. Troutman Jr., USAF retired, who had served as a military liaison at the Lab, died at his home in Newnan, Ga. on June 15, from congestive heart failure. He was 91.

Born Oct. 29, 1917, he was brought up on a plantation near the Okeefenoke Swamp in southeast Georgia.

He attended high school in Albany, Ga., graduating at age 16. During these school years, he worked as bookkeeper for an ice and coal company, at times substituting as delivery person. After high school, he worked as a salesman and driver for the Dr. Pepper Company and his future with that company was promising.

When World War II began, he enlisted in December 1941. In the two-year interval between 1941 and 1943, he was promoted through six grades, from private to master sergeant.

In 1943, he was sent to Officers Candidate School and graduated with the rank of second Lieutenant. He was then assigned to duty in Brazil where he was attached to the U.S. Embassy in Rio de Janerio. When the war ended, he chose to remain in the Air Force as a career and accepted the opportunity from the Air Force to further his education.

He attended the University of Michigan for three years, graduating with both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in nuclear physics and engineering. He then served as a military liaison between the armed services and various research laboratories in the United States, including LLNL.

After 24 years in the USAF, he retired to work in the civilian industry. He joined Mitre Corporation, a private company serving the U. S. military. While at Mitre, in the early 1970s, during the Cold War, he was made director of a project to construct the largest, most complex, most secure military telecommunication system ever been built. The network covered North and South America, Europe and parts of Asia. After the system was installed, he continued to supervise the operation from offices located around the world. He believed this project to be his greatest achievement. Also while at Mitre, he was a part of the first delegation of American scientists to visit China. Later he became director of Mitre's Training College.

He was a Mason, advancing to Grand Master. He was the president of the Lutheran Church in Bedford, Mass. and also in Newnan, Ga.

He retired in 1984 to his 40 acres in Newnan and delighted in building his dream home and living the simple life. He did volunteer work for the local hospitals. Although nearly blind, he used the Internet daily and kept up with world events, including his great interest in advances in quantum physics and medicine.

He was predeceased by his son, Mark Adam Troutman. He is survived by his son David Karl Troutman; his first wife, Favorita; and three grandsons.

Interment will be at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia on Sept. 2.