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Contact Info
Home Town Born Oakland, raised in Salinas, CA
Date of Passing Jan 11, 2013
Location of Interment Arlington National Cemetery (VLM) - Arlington, Virginia
Nori entered Johns Hopkins University and graduated in 1956. In his four years at the University he enjoyed being a member of and Chapter President of the Beta Theta Pi Fraternity. He graduated with B.S. in Biological Sciences and was about to start Medical School when his life took a different turn. He walked into the Baltimore Post Office and met a Navy Chief and a Marine Sargent and two weeks later, he found himself standing on the tarmac at Whiting Field, Florida.
He was commissioned as an Ensign in October 1957 and assigned to flight training in Pensacola, where he earned his Naval Aviator wings and was assigned to fly AD-6 SKYRAIDERs at NAS Alameda.
Captain Endo's operational assignments included Attack Squadron VA-95 on the USS Ranger home ported at NAS Alameda, Training Squadron VT-28, Corpus Christi, Texas, VA-215 BarnOwls on the USS Hancock, CVA-19 where he served two tours in Vietnam and later a tour in the Mediterranean flying A-4's on the USS Roosevelt.
His shore assignments included attending, the U.S. Naval War College, Command and Staff College, Newport, Rhode Island, U. S. Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA earning a Masters in Aeronautical Engineering, CINPACFLT, San Diego, Commanding Officer, Naval Plant Representative Office at Grumman Corporation Bethpage, NY, Project Manager for the F-14 TOMCAT/Phoenix Program, Naval Air Systems command, Crystal City, VA.
From 1978 to 1980, Captain Endo was Commanding Officer, Navy Plant Representative Office (NPRO) at Grumman Aircraft Corporation in Bethpage, NY where he had oversight responsibility to ensure that the highly sophisticated and complex F-14 aircraft and accompanying Phoenix missile system were manufactured and delivered on-time, on-cost and of the of the highest quality providing for Naval aircrews a weapons system of unmatched combat performance. As he oversaw this multi-billion dollar aircraft and missile development and production corporation, CAPT Endo was acknowledged as the consummate NPRO officer possessing that unique blend of inspirational leadership, and an extensive background in engineering, manufacturing, contracting and quality assurance expertise --all tied together with a natural instinct to know and do the right thing.
From August 1980 through December 1983, CAPT Endo was the program manager for the Navy's premier and now legendary aircraft - the F14 Tomcat - a supersonic, twin-engine, two-seat, variable-sweep wing fighter aircraft capable of long-range and simultaneously intercept and attack of six targets with its powerful Track-While Scan (TWS) and six AIM-54 Phoenix missiles. During this time, CAPT ENDO had cradle-to-grave management responsibility for over 300 F-14 aircraft, and was transformative in his management style and technique by instituting the then essentially unknown Integrated Program Team (IPT) - now considered standard practice. Because of the upgrade and enhancement programs that he initiated or incorporated, the F-14 Tomcat has served the true test of time - a 1970's developed aircraft still considered critical to the success of Operations Allied Force, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.
Awards and Decorations: Distinguished Flying Cross, 12 Individual Air Medals, Legion of Merit, Navy Commendation Medal with Combat V and Gold Star in lieu of second Award, (of another Distinguished Flying Cross), Vietnam Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and an Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal.
He was promoted to the rank of Navy Captain (0-6) distinguishing himself as one of only a few Japanese-American pilots to reach that rank.
After retiring from the Navy in January 1984, he joined Grumman Aerospace Corporation and was assigned to their Tokyo, Japan office for five years. Nori was able to thrive and form a great deal of trust and understanding in a time of guarded East-West relations. Grumman was awarded a large contract with the Japanese government during this time but his greatest personal accomplishment while in Japan was the birth of the Japanese Lacrosse Association.
Other Comments:
Norio "Nori" Bruce Endo was born in Oakland, CA on April 4, 1934 and was the oldest of three sons to Kikuo and Lily Endo. He was raised in Salinas, CA until World War II at which time his entire family was interned in Poston, AZ Relocation Camp #2. After release from the relocation camp with his parents and younger brothers, the family moved to Minneapolis, MN for one year and then to Riverdale, MD where he attended Calvert Holmes Elementary School and Riverdale Junior High School. This is when Nori showed his first love of flying by building and flying balsa wood aircraft models.
During his early school years Nori was actively involved with the Boy Scouts and achieved Eagle Scout while a member of University Park Scout Troop 214. Nori graduated from McKinley High School in Washington, DC in 1952.
Nori was an active member of the United States Naval Academy Protestant Congregation and supported, along with his wife Ruth, the "Fisherman's Table"; a monthly fellowship gathering for Naval Academy Chapel Service attendees and Midshipmen. A Celebration of Nori's life was held at the U.S. Naval Academy Chapel. Internment was at Arlington National Cemetery.
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From 1978 to 1980, Captain Endo was Commanding Officer, Navy Plant Representative Office (NPRO) at Grumman Aircraft Corporation in Bethpage, NY where he had oversight responsibility to ensure that the highly sophisticated and complex F-14 aircraft and accompanying Phoenix missile system were manufactured and delivered on-time, on-cost and of the of the highest quality providing for Naval aircrews a weapons system of unmatched combat performance. As he oversaw this multi-billion dollar aircraft and missile development and production corporation, CAPT Endo was acknowledged as the consummate NPRO officer possessing that unique blend of inspirational leadership, and an extensive background in engineering, manufacturing, contracting and quality assurance expertise --all tied together with a natural instinct to know and do the right thing. 
