Alex Merz Memorial Fund
Donation protected
Col Alexander Merz, USAF, passed away tragically and unexpectedly on May 19th, 2019 in a motor vehicle accident while supporting the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence in Palm Springs, CA. He impacted many throughout his career and served as a premier example of service before self. Alex lovingly spoke of his wife and was proud to share the achievements of his children; Tess, who is currently serving in the US Air Force, and his sons, Josiah and Jack. He and was an avid outdoorsman and held a shared passion with Tristan to travel the world.
The goal of this campaign is to provide the Merz family with financial support during this painful time. Nothing can ease the pain of losing a husband, father, colleague and friend to so many and so suddenly but this fund was created as a means to help offset any expenses and serve as a means to show his family how many lives Alex touched throughout his life. We are hoping with your support and help, we can ensure his family has the assurances of a bright future and opportunities he had planned and hoped for.
Thank you for your support and even more importantly for keeping the Merz family in your thoughts and prayers.
A Memorial Service for Colonel Alexander Merz will be held at 3pm on Thursday, May 30th at the Fort Myer Memorial Chapel located At 101 McNair Rd, Fort Myer, VA 22211
Tristan also had one request after receiving a email from one of Alex's coworkers that captured a neat story about Alex that she never heard. Tristan asks that you write her kids (Josiah, Tessa, and Jack) letters about their dad. She wants to preserve those memories and stories for her children. As Tristan captured Alex best, "Alex would croak and be making little tiny "no" head shakes and sending eye daggers in the background, haha but - will you write my children a letter about their dad?"
You can email it to: [email redacted]
More about Col Alexander Merz:
Colonel Alexander Merz is the Deputy Director of Special Programs, Collection and Special Programs (C&SP), Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence (OUSD(I)). Special Programs provides oversight and guidance for development and integration of special intelligence capabilities with warfighter requirements.
Col Merz was commissioned at University of Wyoming, ROTC Detachment 940 in December 1992, and attended the 14N qualifying course at Goodfellow AFB, TX, from 1993-94. His Air Force postings include the 35th Fighter Wing, Misawa, Japan; AFSOC, Hurlburt Field, FL; and HQ PACAF, Hickam AFB, HI. His joint assignments include the Joint Analysis Center, RAF Molesworth, UK; JSOC, Ft Bragg, NC; and HQ SOCOM J2. He has also attended schools at Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA; the Indian Defense Services Staff College, Wellington, India; and National War College, Ft McNair, D.C. He has deployed twice to the Former Republic of Yugoslavia, once to OEF, and twice to OIF.
Col Merz has worked in a variety of fields, including imagery production, intelligence systems administration, targeting, information operations, international affairs, and signals intelligence. He commanded the 93 IS, Lackland AFB, TX, from 2009-2011, was 70 ISR Wing Vice Commander from June 2013 – June 2015, and served as AFSOC Director of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance from June 2015 – Jun 2018.
Col Merz is a native of Wyoming. He and his wife, Tristan, also of Wyoming, have three children, Josiah, Tessa and Jack.
The goal of this campaign is to provide the Merz family with financial support during this painful time. Nothing can ease the pain of losing a husband, father, colleague and friend to so many and so suddenly but this fund was created as a means to help offset any expenses and serve as a means to show his family how many lives Alex touched throughout his life. We are hoping with your support and help, we can ensure his family has the assurances of a bright future and opportunities he had planned and hoped for.
Thank you for your support and even more importantly for keeping the Merz family in your thoughts and prayers.
A Memorial Service for Colonel Alexander Merz will be held at 3pm on Thursday, May 30th at the Fort Myer Memorial Chapel located At 101 McNair Rd, Fort Myer, VA 22211
Tristan also had one request after receiving a email from one of Alex's coworkers that captured a neat story about Alex that she never heard. Tristan asks that you write her kids (Josiah, Tessa, and Jack) letters about their dad. She wants to preserve those memories and stories for her children. As Tristan captured Alex best, "Alex would croak and be making little tiny "no" head shakes and sending eye daggers in the background, haha but - will you write my children a letter about their dad?"
You can email it to: [email redacted]
More about Col Alexander Merz:
Colonel Alexander Merz is the Deputy Director of Special Programs, Collection and Special Programs (C&SP), Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence (OUSD(I)). Special Programs provides oversight and guidance for development and integration of special intelligence capabilities with warfighter requirements.
Col Merz was commissioned at University of Wyoming, ROTC Detachment 940 in December 1992, and attended the 14N qualifying course at Goodfellow AFB, TX, from 1993-94. His Air Force postings include the 35th Fighter Wing, Misawa, Japan; AFSOC, Hurlburt Field, FL; and HQ PACAF, Hickam AFB, HI. His joint assignments include the Joint Analysis Center, RAF Molesworth, UK; JSOC, Ft Bragg, NC; and HQ SOCOM J2. He has also attended schools at Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA; the Indian Defense Services Staff College, Wellington, India; and National War College, Ft McNair, D.C. He has deployed twice to the Former Republic of Yugoslavia, once to OEF, and twice to OIF.
Col Merz has worked in a variety of fields, including imagery production, intelligence systems administration, targeting, information operations, international affairs, and signals intelligence. He commanded the 93 IS, Lackland AFB, TX, from 2009-2011, was 70 ISR Wing Vice Commander from June 2013 – June 2015, and served as AFSOC Director of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance from June 2015 – Jun 2018.
Col Merz is a native of Wyoming. He and his wife, Tristan, also of Wyoming, have three children, Josiah, Tessa and Jack.
Organizer and beneficiary
Harry Arter
Organizer
Arlington, VA
Tristan Merz
Beneficiary