Retired Navy Commander Luke Pakosta James, 50, Huntsville, Alabama, passed away at his home on Friday, July 23, 2021. A visitation will be held from 10-11 a.m. with a memorial service to follow on Friday, July 30, at Laughlin Service Funeral Home Chapel.
A 22-year Navy veteran, Luke was born in Bethesda, Maryland, to his mother, Agnes “Ted” Pakosta James, and father, Rear Admiral Jack Milton James on April 30, 1971. Luke grew up in Arlington, Virginia, with his older sister Jackie James Sweetak. He attended preparatory middle and high school at the Randolph-Macon Academy in Front Royal, Virginia, before attending the Naval Academy Preparatory School (NAPS). Following his year at NAPS he received a presidential nomination to attend the United State Naval Academy. A graduate of the USNA Class of 1994, Luke studied engineering while also excelling as a member of the varsity crew team.
During his military career, Luke served as a Surface Warfare Officer and a Naval Aviator flying the Boeing CH-46D Sea Knight, Beechcraft T-6 Texan Trainer, and TH-57 Bell Jet Ranger. He served as a flight instructor at Naval Air Station Pensacola and also led the day-to-day maintenance operations of a carrier-based squadron during multiple wartime deployments. Luke attended Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island, where he received a master’s degree in national security and strategic studies. Prior to retirement, he supported the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) as a Military Executive for the Office of Asia Pacific, Operations Center Director, and Congressional Liaison. During his service, he received the Defense Meritorious Service Medal and the Joint Service Commendation Medal among several other recognitions of his dedication to the United States Navy.
He met his wife, Sara Hoffman, in Washington D.C. and they were married on November 11, 2011, in Millington, Maryland. Luke and Sara started their family in Del Ray, Virginia, where they welcomed their first two children Luke Pakosta James, Jr. and Lauren Ted James who is named after both of her grandmothers. Shortly after retiring from the Navy, Luke, Sara, and their children moved to Huntsville, Alabama. While in Huntsville, Luke worked in government consulting supporting the FBI expansion on Redstone Arsenal, most recently focusing on business development for SAIC. Sara and Luke welcomed their third child, Jesse Lee James, in July of 2019.
Luke is survived by his wife Sara; his son, Luke Jr. “LJ” (6); his daughters, Lauren Ted (4) and Jesse Lee (2); his sister, Jackie Sweetak; and half-siblings, Captain Brent James, Scott James, and Sharon Foley. He was preceded in death by his parents and his half-brothers, Jonathan and Mark James.
Whether it was making his famous deep-fried turkey for Thanksgiving dinner, teaching his son how to build and drive a remote-control race car, brushing his middle daughter’s curls before school every morning, or falling asleep with his youngest while putting her to bed every night, Luke was a devoted husband and father who will be missed dearly.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to either the U.S. Space and Rocket Center Education Foundation or the Land Trust of North Alabama as those were the places that Luke loved to spend time with his family.
