- Date Of Birth: November 13, 1955
- Date Of Death: August 27, 2015
- State: Illinois
Capt. David “Dave” M. Gibbs (Ret.), 59, of Orlando, FL and formerly of Jacksonville, IL died Thursday, Aug. 27, 2015, in Titusville, FL.
He was born Nov. 13, 1955, the son of James E. and Patricia A. Shannon Gibbs.
He is survived by one brother, Stuart Gibbs of Hopkins, SC and two sisters, Joanne Costello of Auburn and Dina Whetstone of Springfield, along with several nephews, nieces, uncles, aunts, cousins, grandniece and grandnephew. He was preceded in death by his parents and nephew, Kory Michael James Gibbs.
Mr. Gibbs was a 1973 graduate of Jacksonville High School, 1984 graduate from Univ. of New Hampshire with BSME, and earned a Master’s of Science in Electrical Engineering from Univ. of Central Florida. In 1976 he enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve, where he served 5 years of active and reserve duty. His enlistment was notable, earning a good conduct medal, rifle sharp shooter ribbon, expert pistol medal and the U. S. Coast Guard Small Boat Coxswain pin. Upon graduation from UNH, he started his exemplary U. S. Navy career reporting aboard the prestigious Naval Nuclear Power School in Orlando as a Reactor Engineer Technical Instructor, where he taught math to enlisted students during the first half of a 4 year tour and Electrical Engineering to officer students in the last half.
Capt. Gibbs entered the U. S. Navy Reserve as an Engineering Duty Officer in training, after being honorably discharged from active duty. He qualified as an Engineering Duty Officer during his first few assignments as a Navy Reserve. Among his many assignments in his 24 years in the Navy Reserve was a tour as Executive Officer, to NR Port Hueneme Division Naval Surface Warfare Center Det 311, Dallas, TX and Executive Officer of NR US Commander Eastern Atlantic Forces Superintendent of Shipbuilding Det 208 in Orlando, FL. CAPT Gibbs then served as Material Officer, Asst. Dept Head with NR Commander Naval Surface Forces Atlantic Fleet Det 606 in Norfolk, VA, followed by a tour as Commanding Officer of NR Superintendent of Shipbuilding Jacksonville Det 1013. CAPT Gibbs served as Executive Officer of NR Naval Sea Systems Command Qualifiers Det 105 in Orlando, FL and his last assignment prior to retirement, was Commanding Officer of NR Naval Sea Systems Command 00C Support Unit in Washington, DC. Captain Gibbs’ decorations include the Navy Commendation Medal, the Navy Achievement Medal (three awards), National Defense Medal, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal plus his U.S. Coast decorations mentioned above.
As a civilian, Captain Gibbs worked as an Engineering Program Manager at DRS Optronics for Development of Ground based laser systems used by Army personnel in Scouting and Reconnaissance. Prior to that, he was Asst. Dir. of Product Development for Alcon Laboratories, which developed laser surgical instruments used in LASIK and PRK vision correction surgeries. He held 3 patents in laser technology and while working for Litton Laser in Texas, helped design the laser guided missiles used in Operation Desert Storm. Dave was a skilled Pilot, experienced Scuba Diver, and a very successful businessman.
