Obituary for Lt. Col. Ret. Albert R. Girard
Lieutenant Colonel Retired Albert Robert Girard, of Havre de Grace, MD, passed away on March 29, 2019. He was 77.
Mr. Girard was born in Providence, Rhode Island, to Charles B. Girard and Noella Provost Girard. He was the devoted husband of 47 and ½ years to Janet Ann Girard (nee Amendt), loving father of Timothy A. Girard and his wife Gwyn Gerner of Forest Hill, MD, and Nicole E. Judge and her husband Lawrence of Shelton, CT. He was the adored grandfather of Christopher Girard, Ethan Girard, Liam Girard, Madeline Judge, Olivia Judge, and Caleb Judge. Mr. Girard was the brother of Charles Girard, Jr., of Cumberland, RI, Marie Morin of Cumberland, RI, and the late Paul Girard. He was also survived by a sister-in-law Sheryl Girard of Narragansett, RI.
Mr. Girard graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Education (Social Studies) form Providence College, followed by a Master of Education in Counseling and Guidance from the University of Arizona. His other education included: the U.S. Air Force War College, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, the Defense Language School (West Coast), the USAREUR and the 7th Army HUMINT School, DIA’s National Senior Intelligence Course, and NSA’s Information and Computer Security Courses.
Mr. Girard was commissioned (ROTC) in the U.S Army as a 2nd LT, Military Intelligence, in June 1963. He was employed as a high school French language instructor until his entry on active duty in May 1964. During the period from May 1964 through June 1965, he attended the U.S. Infantry School, Intelligence School, and the Defense Language Institute for German language training. In September 1964, he was assigned as a CI special agent/ case officer, Heidelberg Field Office, 527th MI Company, 66th MI Group. Mr. Girard was then assigned as Chief, Regensburg Field Office, and later as Chief, Bad Neustadt Border Resident Office, 511th MI Company (February 1965-June 1968). In this capacity, Mr. Girard served as an interrogator/ debriefer, case officer, and as a liaison officer with both German and Allied Agencies. Mr. Girard was then assigned to the 1st MI Battalion, 525th MI Group, DaNang, RVN (August 1968- June 1970) as a principal operations officer and liaison officer to counterpart Vietnamese Military Intelligence Agencies, and as the focal point for HUMINT operations in I Corps. Upon completion of the MI Advanced Course, Mr. Girard was assigned as a senior CI/ interrogations and polygraph instructor, CI division, and later as Deputy, Technical Intelligence Division, U.S. Army Intelligence Center and School (August 1971- September 1973). Mr. Girard was then assigned as Deputy, U.S. Army Administrative Detachment, INSCOM, with responsibilities for administering the Civilian and Military excepted Career Programs, the U.S. Army Attaché Program, and other specialty programs (January 1975- May 1977). In May 1977, he was assigned as Operations Officer, 766th MI Detachment, Berlin, GE, Mr. Girard also served as the Berlin Command Briefer and Escort Officer for visiting French Speaking visitors to the Command. In June 1980, he was assigned as Chief, Counter-HUMINT Division, INSCOM, with responsibilities for administering Army CI programs. In the areas of computer security, investigations/ operations, operations security, polygraph and technical intelligence. In June 1981, he was assigned as Deputy, 902d MI Group, with responsibility for directing the Group staff and overseeing the operations of three CONUS based MI battalions and two separate detachments.
In July 1983, he assumed the position of Ground Forces Section Chief and then served as Acting Branch Chief, West Europe/ NATO Branch, Directorate for Research, DIA covering basic-research and general military intelligence (GMI). In June 1988, he was assigned, until his retirement from the U.S. Army in March 1989, as Chief, PW-MIA, DIA. In April 1989, he rejoined DIA as an All-Source Collection Requirements Officer in the Directorate for Foreign Capitol Intelligence. In May 1990 he was assigned to the Directorate for Scientific and Technical Intelligence as an All-Source Collection Requirements Officer and as the HUMINT S&TI collection manager. In this capacity he interfaced with the five S&TI Centers and the Intelligence Community on DoD S&TI requirements issues. In June 1993, he was assigned as Chief, Technology Assessment and Support Activity (Project STAR GATE- Ft. Meade, MD), Office for Ground Forces, Military Assessments Directorate, National Military Intelligence Center. In June 1995, he was assigned as a foreign material acquisition senior intelligence officer, Foreign Material Program Division, Technology Assessment Group, Directorate for Intelligence. In October 1997, he was reassigned with his function to the DHS Foreign Material Acquisition Staff, Defense HUMINT Service, Directorate for Operations.
From June 1990 to June 1996, Mr. Girard was a member and later Chairman of the Interagency Scientific and Technical Intelligence Committee- Collection (STIC-C). During this period, he provided support to the interagency MASINT, JAEIC, and WSSIC collection/ production committees, the DCI led Non-Proliferation Center and the NHRTC. Also, during this period, he served as Chief COMINT S&T Working Group and as CO-Chair, HUMINT S&T Working Group. He also participated on interagency working groups at the request of the NIO for S&T.
Mr. Girard was fluent in both French and German languages.
Mr. Girard’s awards include The National Intelligence Certificate of Distinction; the U.S. Army’s Legion of Merit; Bronze Star (1 OLC); Meritorious Service (2OLC); and Commendation Medals. Mr. Girard was also awarded the Vietnamese Medal of Honor (1st Class).
Throughout his life Mr. Girard was true to his Catholic faith. He was a Past Grand Knight of the Knight of Columbus Patuxent Council 2203. He loved sports, especially the New England Patriots and the Boston Red Sox.
A viewing will be held on Friday, April 5, 2019, from 5-8 PM, at Zellman Funeral Home, P.A., 123 S. Washington St., Havre de Grace, MD 21078. A Mass of Resurrection will be held on Saturday, April 6, 2019, at 9:45 AM, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, 615 Congress Avenue, Havre de Grace, MD. Interment with Full Military Honors will be held at Arlington National Cemetery on a later date.
Contributions may be made in his memory to St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, or Alzheimer’s Association,225 N. Michigan Avenue, Floor 17, Chicago, IL 60601.
Online condolences may be made at www.zellmanfuneralhome.com.
Mr. Girard was born in Providence, Rhode Island, to Charles B. Girard and Noella Provost Girard. He was the devoted husband of 47 and ½ years to Janet Ann Girard (nee Amendt), loving father of Timothy A. Girard and his wife Gwyn Gerner of Forest Hill, MD, and Nicole E. Judge and her husband Lawrence of Shelton, CT. He was the adored grandfather of Christopher Girard, Ethan Girard, Liam Girard, Madeline Judge, Olivia Judge, and Caleb Judge. Mr. Girard was the brother of Charles Girard, Jr., of Cumberland, RI, Marie Morin of Cumberland, RI, and the late Paul Girard. He was also survived by a sister-in-law Sheryl Girard of Narragansett, RI.
Mr. Girard graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Education (Social Studies) form Providence College, followed by a Master of Education in Counseling and Guidance from the University of Arizona. His other education included: the U.S. Air Force War College, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, the Defense Language School (West Coast), the USAREUR and the 7th Army HUMINT School, DIA’s National Senior Intelligence Course, and NSA’s Information and Computer Security Courses.
Mr. Girard was commissioned (ROTC) in the U.S Army as a 2nd LT, Military Intelligence, in June 1963. He was employed as a high school French language instructor until his entry on active duty in May 1964. During the period from May 1964 through June 1965, he attended the U.S. Infantry School, Intelligence School, and the Defense Language Institute for German language training. In September 1964, he was assigned as a CI special agent/ case officer, Heidelberg Field Office, 527th MI Company, 66th MI Group. Mr. Girard was then assigned as Chief, Regensburg Field Office, and later as Chief, Bad Neustadt Border Resident Office, 511th MI Company (February 1965-June 1968). In this capacity, Mr. Girard served as an interrogator/ debriefer, case officer, and as a liaison officer with both German and Allied Agencies. Mr. Girard was then assigned to the 1st MI Battalion, 525th MI Group, DaNang, RVN (August 1968- June 1970) as a principal operations officer and liaison officer to counterpart Vietnamese Military Intelligence Agencies, and as the focal point for HUMINT operations in I Corps. Upon completion of the MI Advanced Course, Mr. Girard was assigned as a senior CI/ interrogations and polygraph instructor, CI division, and later as Deputy, Technical Intelligence Division, U.S. Army Intelligence Center and School (August 1971- September 1973). Mr. Girard was then assigned as Deputy, U.S. Army Administrative Detachment, INSCOM, with responsibilities for administering the Civilian and Military excepted Career Programs, the U.S. Army Attaché Program, and other specialty programs (January 1975- May 1977). In May 1977, he was assigned as Operations Officer, 766th MI Detachment, Berlin, GE, Mr. Girard also served as the Berlin Command Briefer and Escort Officer for visiting French Speaking visitors to the Command. In June 1980, he was assigned as Chief, Counter-HUMINT Division, INSCOM, with responsibilities for administering Army CI programs. In the areas of computer security, investigations/ operations, operations security, polygraph and technical intelligence. In June 1981, he was assigned as Deputy, 902d MI Group, with responsibility for directing the Group staff and overseeing the operations of three CONUS based MI battalions and two separate detachments.
In July 1983, he assumed the position of Ground Forces Section Chief and then served as Acting Branch Chief, West Europe/ NATO Branch, Directorate for Research, DIA covering basic-research and general military intelligence (GMI). In June 1988, he was assigned, until his retirement from the U.S. Army in March 1989, as Chief, PW-MIA, DIA. In April 1989, he rejoined DIA as an All-Source Collection Requirements Officer in the Directorate for Foreign Capitol Intelligence. In May 1990 he was assigned to the Directorate for Scientific and Technical Intelligence as an All-Source Collection Requirements Officer and as the HUMINT S&TI collection manager. In this capacity he interfaced with the five S&TI Centers and the Intelligence Community on DoD S&TI requirements issues. In June 1993, he was assigned as Chief, Technology Assessment and Support Activity (Project STAR GATE- Ft. Meade, MD), Office for Ground Forces, Military Assessments Directorate, National Military Intelligence Center. In June 1995, he was assigned as a foreign material acquisition senior intelligence officer, Foreign Material Program Division, Technology Assessment Group, Directorate for Intelligence. In October 1997, he was reassigned with his function to the DHS Foreign Material Acquisition Staff, Defense HUMINT Service, Directorate for Operations.
From June 1990 to June 1996, Mr. Girard was a member and later Chairman of the Interagency Scientific and Technical Intelligence Committee- Collection (STIC-C). During this period, he provided support to the interagency MASINT, JAEIC, and WSSIC collection/ production committees, the DCI led Non-Proliferation Center and the NHRTC. Also, during this period, he served as Chief COMINT S&T Working Group and as CO-Chair, HUMINT S&T Working Group. He also participated on interagency working groups at the request of the NIO for S&T.
Mr. Girard was fluent in both French and German languages.
Mr. Girard’s awards include The National Intelligence Certificate of Distinction; the U.S. Army’s Legion of Merit; Bronze Star (1 OLC); Meritorious Service (2OLC); and Commendation Medals. Mr. Girard was also awarded the Vietnamese Medal of Honor (1st Class).
Throughout his life Mr. Girard was true to his Catholic faith. He was a Past Grand Knight of the Knight of Columbus Patuxent Council 2203. He loved sports, especially the New England Patriots and the Boston Red Sox.
A viewing will be held on Friday, April 5, 2019, from 5-8 PM, at Zellman Funeral Home, P.A., 123 S. Washington St., Havre de Grace, MD 21078. A Mass of Resurrection will be held on Saturday, April 6, 2019, at 9:45 AM, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, 615 Congress Avenue, Havre de Grace, MD. Interment with Full Military Honors will be held at Arlington National Cemetery on a later date.
Contributions may be made in his memory to St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, or Alzheimer’s Association,225 N. Michigan Avenue, Floor 17, Chicago, IL 60601.
Online condolences may be made at www.zellmanfuneralhome.com.