Alden Vincent Munson Jr., a prominent figure in the engineering and intelligence communities, passed away on August 29, 2025, following complications from heart surgery. A long-time resident of Manhattan Beach, California, he was 83 years old at the time of his death.
Born on April 9, 1942, in Kingsburg, California, Alden was the son of Alden and Marguerite (Rouch) Munson. His childhood was spent largely in Springville, California, close to a family sawmill. He later moved to Visalia, where he attended Mount Whitney High School. There, he excelled in both sports, playing football, and music, playing the trombone. He continued his education at the College of the Sequoias and graduated with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from San Jose State College. Alden furthered his studies by obtaining an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from UC Berkeley, and pursued advanced coursework in computer science at UCLA. He also attended executive programs at Harvard and Stanford.
Career Highlights and Achievements
Alden began his distinguished career at The Aerospace Corporation in 1966 and later joined TRW in 1973. There, he led several significant projects early in his tenure and eventually became Vice President of TRW’s System Development Division. His work gained widespread recognition, culminating in his designation as a Pioneer of National Reconnaissance by the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) in 2000, for his innovative development of a fully automatic electronic intelligence system.
Upon retiring in 1997, Alden took on senior leadership roles at Litton Industries. From 2007 to 2010, he served as Deputy Director for Acquisitions at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, earning the National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal in 2009. Despite retiring, Alden continued to work as a consultant within the intelligence community, serving on various boards and mentoring young professionals.
A Passionate Life
Alden was known for his dynamic personality and strong opinions, especially regarding political matters. His dry sense of humor and engaging presence made him a favorite among colleagues and friends. He enjoyed water skiing with family and friends on the Stockton Delta and had a lifelong passion for snow skiing, eagerly anticipating future trips with his grandsons.
In addition to skiing, Alden was an avid model train enthusiast, being a member of the Los Angeles Model Railroad Society. He and his wife, Jane Munson, whom he married 52 years ago, shared a love for travel, often exploring New York City and attending musical theatre performances. Alden is survived by Jane, their daughter Kathryn (Katie) Bechtel and her husband, Greg, as well as two grandsons, Max and Sam Bechtel. He also leaves behind his sister, Marguerite (Pegi) Hover, and brother, Charles, both of Visalia, along with many cousins.
Alden was predeceased by his parents and sister, Kathryn Munson. A Celebration of Life is scheduled for November 7, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. at the Manhattan Beach Community Church, located at 303 S. Peck Ave. A reception will follow the service.
