Nathaniel French Caldwell Jr., 68, of Southern Shores, NC, passed away on the morning of June 8, 2023, at his home, surrounded by his family with Patty, his wife of 46 years, holding his hand. Known to friends and family as French, he leaves a legacy of integrity, kindness, and dedication.
Born in Tullahoma, TN, on October 31, 1954, he was the son of the late Nathaniel French Caldwell Sr. and Gaynelle Williams Caldwell. He is survived by his wife, Patty; one daughter, Elizabeth; three sons, Lee, Randolph, and Joseph; three grandsons, Marxer, Odin, and Adrian; three brothers, Russell, Bruce, and Clay; and two sisters, Gaynelle and Shirley.
French grew up in Pascagoula, MS, but also had fond memories of his grandmother’s house in Nashville, TN. In 1973, he entered the US Naval Academy, where he studied oceanography and graduated in 1977. A lifelong learner, he would continue to further his education and attended Old Dominion University, where he earned his Master’s in International Studies in 1987, and Northeastern University, where he earned his PHD in Law and Policy in addition to graduating as valedictorian of his class in 2018.
French’s dedication to service extended beyond academia. After graduating from the Naval Academy in 1977, he served his country with honor and distinction aboard the submarines USS Birmingham, USS Baton Rouge, and USS Will Rogers. In 1991, he moved to Bethesda, MD, in the Washington, DC area, where he was a Federal Executive Fellow with the Brookings Institution for one year, and then served as Special Projects Officer for the Secretary of the Navy. In 1994, he retired from the Navy at the rank of Commander. Afterwards, he led a distinguished professional career, beginning as Diplomatic Liaison for the Commission on Roles and Missions of the Armed Forces.
In 1995, he joined Richard S. Carson and Associates as a Director; in 1997, he became a Senior Manager at Arthur Andersen; and in 1999, he became a Vice President and Gartner Fellow at Gartner, Inc., where he worked for the next 15 years. While at Gartner, he became an expert on government risk compliance (GRC), and colleagues referred to him as a pillar in the GRC community. One of his proudest projects at Gartner was alerting Congress and the military to the risks of a digital Pearl Harbor, or the idea that a cyber attack could create a crisis of confidence that would shift the balance of power. After leaving Gartner, he went on to work at MetricStream as Chief Marketing Officer for four years.
After MetricStream, French co-founded The Analyst Syndicate, a group of independent IT analysts who were highly influential in their fields, before joining Archer Integrated Risk Management as Chief Strategy Officer in 2021.
Beyond his educational and professional career, French was a dedicated father. He had a passion for the Boy Scouts that began at a young age and continued as each of his sons entered scouts. He loved to travel with his wife Patty and enjoyed touring Europe with his daughter when she lived there. He was a sailing enthusiast, and throughout his life, he always sought adventure, from hiking Old Rag in Shenandoah to climbing to the top of Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. Professionally, his proudest accomplishment was that of serving his country during his long Naval career.
French’s passing leaves a profound void in the lives of his loved ones, but they find solace in the memories of his unwavering love and dedication. His legacy of integrity, resilience, and compassion will continue to inspire all those fortunate to have known him.
Nathaniel French Caldwell Jr. will be deeply loved, deeply missed, and his spirit will forever live on in the hearts of his family and friends. A viewing will be held at Little Flower Church on Massachusetts Avenue in Bethesda, MD, on June 23 from 10:30 a.m. to noon immediately followed by a memorial service. Afterwards, a reception will be held at Clydes of Chevy Chase on Wisconsin Ave., from 2pm to 5pm.
Please share condolences with the family at www.gallopfuneralservices.com. Gallop Funeral Services, Inc. was entrusted with local arrangements.