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LEO A. BRIGADIER GENERAL LEO A. KILEY, USAF, RET., age 87, passed away in Santa Fe on Monday, September 26, 2005. He was born on May 22, 1918, in Boston, MA, to Leo A. and Pauline M. Kiley. General Kiley was preceded in death by his loving wife of 60 years, Luna Hamilton Kiley of Mars Hill, ME, and by his son, Thomas L. Kiley. He is survived by his daughter, Karen K. Hardy and husband, Kenneth W. of Santa Fe; son, Michael J. Kiley and wife, Jennifer of Henderson, NV; grandchildren: Stephen J. Hardy and wife, Dana of Santa Fe, Christine E. Hardy, of Boulder, CO, Patrick M. Kiley and wife, Mollie, of Henderson, NV, Damon T. Kiley, of Seattle, WA; and great-grandchildren: Alec Liam Hardy of Santa Fe, and Samantha Kiley, of Henderson, NV. General Kiley was a graduate of the Boston Latin School, founded in 1635 and the nation's oldest school, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) where he earned a degree in chemical engineering and an equivalent masters degree in meteorology. He later earned a doctorate in nuclear chemistry at Ohio State University. An honorary doctor of laws was conferred upon him by New Mexico State University. He served nine years on the board of trustees at the College of Santa Fe. From 1939 to 1969, General Kiley served first in the Army Ordnance Department, but was transferred to the Army Air Corps at the onset of WWII. He commanded weather squadrons in the North Atlantic, the Pacific and the U.S. He was the commander of Hickam AFB Weather Central and later was chief of plans and operations for the Continental Weather Wing at Tinker AFB, OK. In 1954, he was assigned to the Atomic Warfare Directorate of the AF Cambridge Research Center, MA. were he served as deputy director. General Kiley served as deputy chief of staff at the Field Command, Defense Atomic Support Agency, Sandia Base, NM, and later was transferred to the AF Special Weapons Center, Kirtland AFB, NM, were he was instrumental in the organization of the Research Directorate's Biophysics Division which he later directed. He was awarded the Legion of Merit for his work which involved defining personnel hazards from nuclear weapons. He was transferred back to the Weapons Effects and Tests Group, Field Command, Defense Atomic Support Agency, Sandia Base, NM, where he ultimately managed all Department of Defense effects test programs in Nevada and the Pacific which were the last series of atmospheric tests prior to the nuclear test ban treaty. He later played a major role in formulating plans for the underground nuclear test program for which he received a second Legion of Merit. In 1963, General Kiley was assigned to the Air Force Cambridge Research Laboratories and subsequently became its commander. In 1965, General Kiley took command of the Air Force Missile Development Center, Holloman AFB, NM, were he was responsible for the management and support of all Air Force testing conducted at Holloman and the White Sands Missile Range. In 1967, he assumed duties as deputy director for development, Deputy Chief Of Staff, Research and Development at HQ Unites States Air Force. In 1968 he became commander of the Office of Aerospace Research which was tasked with exploring advanced concepts to increase the Air Force's ability to develop superior aerospace weapons in concert with military and academic communities worldwide. His career culminated with the awarding of the AF Distinguished Service Medal. After retirement from the Air Force, General Kiley became General Manager of General Electric Company's Neutron Devices Department in St. Petersburg, FL. The plant employed 1500 people designing and manufacturing neutron generators, thermal batteries and other highly technical and classified devices for the Department of Energy nuclear weapons program. In 1979 General and Mrs. Kiley moved to Santa Fe, where General Kiley was employed for 12 years by Los Alamos Technical Associates in numerous positions including in consulting, corporate management and vice president of the Defense Systems Division and the Operations Planning and Control Division. General Kiley is listed in Leaders of American Science, Who's Who in Space, and American Men of Science. He is member of Sigma Xi, Health Physics Society and the Research Society of America. A visitation will be held on Thursday, September 29, 2005, at 5 p.m., with a Rosary following at 6 p.m., at McGee Memorial Chapel. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, September 30, 2005, at 10 a.m., at St. Francis Cathedral. Burial, with full military honors, will follow the Mass at Santa Fe National Cemetery. McGee Memorial Chapel Mortuary 1320 Luisa Street Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505 505-983-9151
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