Jesse S. Carter passed away March 21 in Sebring, FL. He was born August 12, 1945, in Sarasota, Florida to the late Samuel C. and Lillie Mae Carter.

At a young age, Jesse moved with his family from Alva, Florida to Zolfo Springs, FL Excelling in sports and academics, Jesse graduated from Hardee High School as Valedictorian in 1963. Upon graduation, Mr. Carter received a Congressional appointment to the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland where he once again excelled in sports and academics. While earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Naval Science (Engineering) in 1967, Jesse also took pride in serving as the Sailing Instructor during his senior year. After graduating from the Naval Academy, he was commissioned as an Ensign in the US Navy. He later completed postgraduate courses in Meteorology and Weapons Systems Acquisition Management at the US Naval Postgraduate School and the Lockheed Management Institute course at the University of Santa Clara, both in CA.

Mr. Carter received multi-engine flight training in Pensacola, FL. and Corpus Christi, TX, and was designated as a Naval Aviator in 1969. He returned to Milton, FL as a Flight Instructor for two years prior to service during the Vietnam War as Patrol Plane Commander and Mission Commander with Patrol Squadron Forty based in Sunnyvale, CA. He flew operational ASW and Surveillance missions during overseas deployments throughout the Northern Pacific Ocean, Sea of Japan, South China Sea, Sea of Thailand, Indian Ocean, and Persian Gulf during the Vietnam War in the Lockheed P-3 Orion Aircraft. Prior to leaving the Navy in 1977, he flew Lockheed S-3 Viking ASW aircraft and taught mission systems and tactics to new pilots in San Diego, CA.

After his exceptional military career, Mr. Carter worked briefly as a Project Engineer for BDM Inc., planning and staging experiments for the US Army Combat Development Experimentation Command at Ft. Ord, CA. He moved to the Lockheed California Company in Burbank, CA as a Flight Simulator Rep for the Canadian CP-140 program that had both P-3 and S-3 systems. He also served as Configuration Manager and Master Scheduler, developing the first life-cycle Master Schedule for Lockheed's Advanced Tactical Fighter program, now known as the Lockheed Martin-USAF F-22.

In 1982, Mr. Carter transferred to Lockheed's Missiles and Space Company in Sunnyvale, CA where he developed the initial Master Schedule for the Joint MILSTAR Satellite system that provides for survivable, world-wide military communications during all levels of conflict. He was promoted to Assistant Program Manager of General Systems Engineering on the MILSTAR program during the Engineering Development phase and later served as Manager of Program Planning with Top Secret clearance.

As the Missiles and Space Company's operations grew rapidly during the 1980's, Mr. Carter was selected to lead a company-wide initiative to provide improved methods and processes for planning and control of project costs and schedules. These received US Government approval and certification in 1986. He was also selected to lead a team in developing a state-of-the-art cost and schedule system that integrated those functions and eliminated error-prone manual processes. Using both commercial software programs, servers and networks and internally developed, graphical interface tools and databases, the new system was proved to be an unqualified success. It has been in operation at the Sunnyvale, CA, Huntsville, AL, and Newton, PA company facilities for several years.

Mr. Carter retired as a Senior Financial Specialist and Consultant for the United States Government Department of Defense and NASA programs at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Space Operations in California. Although he was known for his professionalism and exacting standards, he enjoyed the nickname 'Silver Fox' for his good looks, wit, and charm.

Moving home to Wauchula in 2016, Jesse enjoyed extensive reading, spending time with fellow veterans, and tinkering with mechanical systems. An avid outdoorsman, he spent time hunting, fishing, and camping from the flat lands of Zolfo Springs, FL to the mountain range of Sierra Nevada.

Jesse is preceded in death by his parents, daughter Christina Carter, and brother Ben Carter. He is survived by two sons, Kevin Carter of Wauchula, and Michael Carter of Oklahoma City, two sisters, Rachel (Ken) Medley of Jacksonville Beach, FL, Mildred Smith of Wauchula, three grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

There will be grave side services for Jesse, April 4, 2023 at 2:00PM at New Hope Baptist Church Cemetery,1999 State Road 64 E Wauchula, Florida.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in Jesse's memory to the American Legion Post 2, 106 W. Palmetto St., Wauchula, FL 33873.

Online condolences can be made at www.pongerkaysgrady.com.

Ponger-Kays-Grady Funeral Homes & Cremations Services have been entrusted with the arrangements.