Lt. Col. Troy Dean Danielson, 56, of Huntingtown, Maryland, tragically passed on January 24th, 2023 after silently struggling with PTSD for many years. Troy was born September 1,1966 to Reed and Sandy Danielson of Minden, NE.  After graduating, with the class of ’84, he attended DeVry Tech College in Kansas City before moving to Florida. He lived with his brother Corey and worked various jobs including modeling and acting (He was an extra in Miami Vice). Troy joined the USAF in 1989, with plans to travel the world and continue his education. He served 10 years enlisted, stationed in Colorado and Cannon AFB in Clovis, NM where he met his wife Diana. She remembers, as if it were yesterday, the first time they laid eyes on each other. Troy looked up, as she walked into their English class, after teaching gymnastics at the base Youth Center. The first thought that went through her mind when she saw those beautiful blue eyes was, “He’s married! ” The next week Troy moved over to sit by his friend Leroy, or so Troy’s story goes ;-D The rest is history. They were married in Portales, NM on October 30, 1993 and soon departed on their first assignment as a family to RAF Lakenheath, England.

While stationed in England, daughters, Breanne and Taylor were born. Many good memories were made while traveling throughout the UK, Germany, France, and Italy. Troy thoroughly enjoyed scuba diving there with his long time friend and former AF roommate and best man, Scott Weimann. During that time, he attended Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and completed his degree in business. Troy transitioned out of Active Duty in 1999 and was briefly stationed at Luke AFB, AZ with the AF Reserves. He was eventually hired by Intel Corp in Hillsboro, Oregon where he remained employed for 10 years. The family continued to grow with the addition of Jacob in 2000 and Jessee in 2002. Troy enjoyed coaching his children in their recreational league sports, including soccer and football. He loved spending time outdoors.

Troy served as a Maintenance Officer with the Portland Air National Guard base until 2012, when he accepted a position in the D.C. area at Joint Base Andrews. His final assignment was serving as the Senior Joint Plans Officer, National Guard Bureau, J-55 War Plans Branch where he provided policy advice and planning expertise to the most senior officers in the Air and Army National Guard. In Dec of 2021, after faithfully serving his country for 32+ years, Troy was forced to retire 5 months early, due to Covid mandates. This was not the way he envisioned his career ending.

In November 2022, he accepted a position with Calibre Systems as a Program Analyst, and was quickly hand-selected to support a contract with the National Guard Bureau J-8. This brought Troy back “into the building” at the Pentagon where he rekindled old friendships and eagerly dove into his new line of work. He thoroughly enjoyed his time there, dressing up in business attire and meeting many wonderful people.

Troy didn’t have many hobbies to speak of, but he enjoyed helping his daughter Breanne fulfill her dream of having a little farm. She started out raising Shollies, and expanded to include an extensive line of pure bred chickens with colorful eggs, then added Nigerian Dwarf goats to the equation. Jessee was Troy’s right- hand-man, helping build the chicken castle, goat pen and  all of the fencing. They were the dynamic duo! Many of you knew Troy as “Fester”, because he was allergic to poison ivy and would blister severely. The goats cleared our property, and soon the main source of income for our little farm became goatscaping. Thanks to Dad, “The Goatscaping Gals” was formed, to include Breanne, Taylor, Piper “Cub”,  Mimi and her other “daughter” Caitlin and miss Lillian.  As always, Troy was the Go-To-Guy when someone needed help. He enjoyed his role as a senior member of the Civil Air Patrol, with his son Jacob, laying wreaths at Arlington National Cemetery with Wreaths Across America each Christmas.

Troy loved baseball and recently became involved with the Oriole Advocates in their community outreach.  His kindness and contributions were appreciated by all. He will be remembered as “The Happy Birthday Guy”, to those on Facebook. We will cherish the good memories that we share and forever hide Troy in our hearts.

Survivors include his wife Diana, daughters, Breanne (Doug) White, Taylor (Joey) Compton, sons Jacob and Jessee, and two grandchildren, all residing in Calvert County Maryland; Troy’s parents, Reed Danielson, Sandy Danielson, and brother Corey (Nesha) of Minden, Nebraska and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. Not as the world gives do I give to you.

Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. ” John 14:27

A Celebration of Troy’s life will be held Sunday, February 26 from 2-6 PM at the Stalllings-Williams American Legion Post 206 in Chesapeake Beach.