Eric R. Sanger

Fort Walton Beach, FL - Eric R. Sanger, 49, passed away unexpectedly, Thursday, December 7, 2023, in Fort Walton Beach, FL.

Eric was born in New Hartford, NY, March 6, 1974, a son of Lawrence Sanger.

On August 20, 1999, Eric married the love of his life, Kellie Marie Salvo. They have shared twenty-four years of marriage and were blessed with two children. Eric's devotion to his wife and their two boys knew no bounds. He would do anything for his family, always putting their needs and happiness above his own.

Eric was a very highly accomplished individual. He obtained a Bachelor of Engineering Degree in Mechanical Engineering at the State University of New York. He continued his education at The University of Phoenix, achieving a Master's Degree in Business Administration. Eric went on to receive a Master of Science Degree in System Engineering from Johns Hopkins University, in Maryland.

Throughout his career, Eric made significant contributions to the field of engineering. He worked with esteemed organizations such as River Hawk, General Electric Power Systems, General Dynamics Defense Systems, Mission Driven Research, Torch Technologies, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, and also as a Government Civilian.

Eric joined the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) Engineering Team, as a representative of the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, in 2009. He provided direct engineering support to the MDA Targets and Countermeasures office, where his threat engineering expertise allowed MDA to begin the development of several threat representative targets. Due to his expert capabilities, Eric was selected to serve as the Deputy Chief Systems Engineer, as a new Government Civilian, assigned under the Agency's Director for Engineering. Eric spent the next several years working in this role ensuring all threat-representative missiles were designed, developed, and qualified based on real-world threat analysis and predictions. He also served as the Program Management and Integration Lead for the Targets Program, where he was able to combine his expert-level knowledge of threat missile systems and the Agency's defensive systems as a Program's lead for developing the Integrated Master Test Plan. MDA demonstrated numerous operational capabilities against the most sophisticated threat missiles, all due in large part to Eric's technical acumen and initiative.

In 2017, Eric was selected to serve as the Technical Director to the Program Executive for Ground-based Weapon Systems. Steeped in technical processes and weapon system expertise, Eric served on numerous technical tiger teams and executive review panels solving our Agency's most complex and demanding problems. Because of his efforts, MDA was able to deploy new capabilities across the Ground-based Midcourse Defense Program, the Terminal High Altitude, Air Defense System, and numerous US-Israeli Cooperative Development Programs. Eric's drive to ensure our nation's missile defense systems were developed using sound engineering principles, technical rigor were the best, and his legacy continues today with our Missile Defense Operators on watch across the globe.

In 2018, Eric worked for Mission Driven Research (MDR) supporting MDAs Threat Engineering Division leading the MDA Threat Production Team. The products, analysis, and answers to Requests for Information directly contributed to the Agency's missile defense programs' system requirements for both flight and ground tests in addition to missile defense system development.

In 2022, Eric moved to Torch where he again was able to use his deep technical knowledge of MDA systems and global threats in supporting the Missile Defense Systems Architecture Assessment and Threat Assessment Engineering. In this new role, Eric was able to again contribute to closing system gaps, eliminating attack vectors by our enemy missile systems, and helped ensure our Missile Defense Operators had the necessary systems to defend our homeland, forward deployed troops, and allies.

He concluded his career back at John’s Hopkins Applied Physics lab, where his contributions to the safety of our defense system was remarkable and he has left lasting footprints for engineers to follow.

Outside of his professional life, Eric had a passion for music. He played the guitar and drums and had an incredible love for all genres. He enjoyed doing puzzles, especially during the holidays, and had a talent for putting together 3-D trinket figures. Eric was always up to date with the latest electronics and loved exploring new gadgets. He also enjoyed playing video games, often engaging in friendly competition with his children. Recently, he had embarked on flying lessons to fulfill his dream of flying airplanes. Eric's vast knowledge and love for trivia, particularly music-related, were admired by all who knew him.

Eric is survived by his wife, Kellie Marie Salvo-Sanger; beloved children, Jacob Sanger of Lacey Springs, AL, and his girlfriend, Kristen Franks, and Zachary Sanger of Birmingham, AL, and his girlfriend, Savanna Burnes; his father, Lawrence Sanger of Clinton, NY; sister, Dawn Maher of Albany, NY; aunts and uncles, Kevin and Sandy Sanger of Whitesboro, NY, and Fred Sanger and his companion, Chuck Chimera both of Syracuse, NY; several nieces, nephews, cousins, and in-laws, Colleen Talbot-Eckler and her husband, Rick Eckler, Kenneth and Pam Williams, Marla Adorino, Bernard and Adrienne Adorino, and many special friends, including the Field’s family. He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Arliss and Adeline Sanger; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Rosario and Yvonne Salvo; brother-in-law, Richard Salvo; and sister-in-law, Sheree Williams-Johnson.

Eric will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and all those whose lives he touched. His legacy of dedication, intelligence, and love will forever be cherished. In lieu of flowers, Kellie requests that you share a memory of Eric in a sympathy card to their children.

PO Box 198, Suite E

6585 Hwy 431 S

Hampton Cove, AL 35763

In keeping with Eric’s wishes, there will be no public visitation. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend his Mass of Christian Burial on Thursday afternoon, December 28, 2023, at Mary, Mother of Our Savior Parish, Lourdes Campus at 12:00. The family will receive visitors in church at the conclusion of services. Arrangements are under the care of Adrean Funeral Service, Inc., Utica, NY. A Memorial Service for Eric will also be held on Thursday, December 21, 2023 at 6:00 PM at Valhalla Funeral Home & Memory Gardens, 698 Winchester Road NE, Huntsville, Alabama, 35811.