Capt. John Filip Junek, USN (Ret.), 75 of Leonardtown, MD passed away on August 6, 2020 at his home, surrounded by his loving family.

He was born on December 28, 1944 in Bethesda, MD to the late Filip Junek and Vivian (Morse) Junek.

Captain Junek is a 1967 graduate of United States Naval Academy, earning a Bachelor's degree in Naval Science. He reported to flight training at Pensacola, FL in 1967. He was designated a Naval Flight Officer in March 1968, he reported to VF-121 and F-4 training at Naval Air Station Miramar. He made two combat deployments aboard the USS Kitty Hawk followed by instruction at the Navy's "Top Gun" school, Class 10.

In March 1972, he married his high school sweetheart, Kathryn Sinclair Junek at the U.S. Naval Academy. Together they celebrated over 48 wonderful years of marriage.

After graduating U.S. Naval Test Pilot School in 1972, he served as project officer in the fighter branch of the Weapons Systems Test Division, Naval Air Test Center at Patuxent River, MD. He was also a member of the Board of Inspection and Survey for the F-14 acceptance trials.

Captain Junek returned to Pacific Fleet fighters for a tour with VF-24 in 1975 aboard USS Constellation as Personnel Officer, Maintenance Officer and Operations Officer. VF-24 won the Clifton Award, the Battle E and the MUTHA trophy twice.

He graduated from the U.S. Air Force Command and Staff College at Maxwell Air Force Base in 1979 while independently earning a Master's Degree in Business Administration and Financial Management from Auburn University. He then reported to OPNAV, Washington, D.C. where he served as the TACAIR Analyst for Strike Branch, Systems Analysis Division (OP-962). He is designated a Weapons Systems Acquisition Manager, a proven subspecialist in Operations Analysis, Applied Logic and Engineering Flight Test and Financial Management.

Captain Junek commanded Fighter Squadron 213 aboard the USS Enterprise. His squadron was designated most improved command by the Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet. He provided F-14 aircraft and coordinated the shipboard filming of the movie, "Top Gun."

He served as the F-14 Program Coordinator for Assistant Chief of Naval Operations, Air Warfare during the full-scale development phase of the F-14D Super Tomcat.

Captain Junek was commanding officer of the USS Roanoke (AOR 7) from 10/1989 to 4/1991. He has flown 261 combat missions, logged over 3,300 hours flight time, made 950 carrier landings in fighter aircraft, rounded Cape Horn, transited the Panama Canal and sailed six of the seven seas. He reported to SACLANT as Executive Assistance to the Chief of Staff, Supreme Allied Commander, Atlantic in June 1991.

He retired after 30 years of dedicated service to his country. After retirement he worked as the Corporate Business Development Director for Naval Aviation Programs for Lockheed Martin Corporation where he was on the design and capture team for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. He spent 15 dedicated years with them. After retiring from them, he enjoyed small grain crop farming and spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren.

In addition to his beloved wife, Kathryn, John is also survived by his daughter, Karenan Smart (Ray) of Leonardtown, MD and his son, John M. Junek (Annette) of Leonardtown, MD; three grandchildren: Jane and Mac Bailey, and James Christian Junek; and many extended family and friends.

All services will be private. Interment will be held at a later date at the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD.

Condolences to the family may be made at www.brinsfieldfuneral.com.

Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A.