William F. (Bill) Waite passed on Saturday, July 25th at the age of 68 at his home in Lacey’s Spring, Alabama.
Bill was born on October 17, 1946 in Tyrone, Pennsylvania. He grew up as the eldest of two children. In 1968, Bill received his Bachelors of Science in Physics from Union College. He went on to attend Pennsylvania State University where he received his Masters of Science in Physics in 1971. Bill completed his education at the University of Alabama in Huntsville in 1975 where he received his Masters of Administrative Science degree.
Bill is preceded in death by his parents, William F. Waite, and N. Jane Wertz Waite. He is survived by his wife, Katie Connor Waite; three children, William Elliot Waite, Portia Waite, and Emily Waite of Lacey’s Spring, Alabama; his sister, Francis Jane Scott and her husband, Geoffrey Scott; nephew, Alex Scott, all of Tyrone, Pennsylvania; and Martha Calderwood, mother of William Elliot Waite.
In high school Bill, a National Merit Semi-Finalist, was a boy scout of Troop 27, and earned his Eagle Scout Award in 1961. His diverse activities included band and choir, as well as wrestling. High school friends recall his playful sense of humor, as well as his seriousness of purpose.
Bill possessed charm and wit, an affable nature, and a love of literature, especially George Bernard Shaw and Henry David Thoreau. His appreciation of art and nature were evident in conversation.
Bill was the Chairman and co-founder of The AEgis Technologies Group, Inc (AEgis), a privately held aerospace and defense small business headquartered in Huntsville, Alabama. Bill spent a majority of the last 20 years working to raise the national and international awareness of the power of Modeling & Simulation technology. He worked diligently to transform the industry’s ability to collaborate and communicate through the establishment of industry forums such as the Alabama Modeling and Simulation Council (AMSC) and the Virginia Modeling and Simulation Partnership (VMSP). He took this concept to a national and international scale, birthing the idea and supporting the full implementation of both the National Modeling and Simulation Coalition (NM&SSC) and the international SimSummitRound Table. He twice led the Society for Modeling and Simulation International [SCS] as Chairman of the Board of Directors, and he served twice on the Executive Committee of the Simulation Interoperability Standards Organization (SISO). Bill was also active in the National Training and Simulation Association (NTSA), served the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) as a member of its Board of Trustees, and was on the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama (EDPA) Foundation Board of Directors.
Bill was instrumental in supporting Congressman Randy Forbes and the Congressional M&S Caucus in establishing House Resolution 487, recognizing M&S as a National Critical Technology. When an initiative involving lots of people and organizations to establish an M&S NAICS code failed initially, Bill, of course, got more involved, doubled his efforts, and led the second attempt to establish a much needed Federal procurement designation for the M&S industry.
Bill was professionally involved in all phases of the Modeling and Simulation (M&S) life cycle and was extremely active in the evolution of the M&S profession, workforce, industry and market for the majority of his life. Bill was impassioned about M&S education and was an influential, active member of the Modeling and Simulation Professional Certification Commission (M&SPCC), which established the concept, protocols, testing, and training for Certified Modeling & Simulation Professional (CMSP) program. Bill also worked diligently in advocacy and support to establish Masters Degree and PhD programs in M&S at several major universities to include UAH, UCF, Old Dominion and the Naval Post Graduate School to name a few.
Bill will be remembered for many exemplary traits. However, those who knew him best will mostly recall his love and devotion to his family and how generously he gave of himself.
A visitation is scheduled for Thursday, July 30th from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, Huntsville, AL with the funeral directly following. Rev Dr. Glenn Connor will officiate the ceremony. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Bill’s life.
In lieu of flowers, the family asked that donations be sent to Special Olympics of North Alabama, 410 Jan Davis Drive, Huntsville, AL 35806.
