Roll Call Tribute

Paul Courtney Etter 

October 27, 1947 - March 2, 2026 

Paul Courtney Etter, 78, passed away on March 2, 2026, in Omaha, Nebraska.

Paul is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Alice Etter; children Gregory Etter (Sophia) and Andrew Etter (Michelle Megna); and grandchildren Elaina, Renae, Kale, Adeline, and Annabel. Paul is preceded in death by his parents, Richard and Ellen Etter, his brother, David Etter, and cousin, Evelyn Etter.

Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Paul attended local schools where he first met his future wife, Alice. Deviating from his father's carpentry profession, Paul followed his deep passion for science and physics to Texas A&M University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Physics and a Master of Science in Oceanography. During his time there, he was profoundly influenced by Professor John D. Cochrane, who inspired the scholarly discipline that would come to define Paul's life and career.

Paul married Alice on June 21, 1969, before entering the United States Navy and attending the U.S. Naval Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island. A proud Vietnam-era veteran, he served honorably as an Anti-Submarine Warfare Officer aboard frigates, responsible for the tactical operation of the ships' sonar systems. He initially served on the USS Lester (DE 1022), conducting blue-water deployments in the deep ocean to Europe and other overseas ports before its decommissioning. Recognizing his exceptional performance on the Lester, the Navy specifically selected Paul to fulfill the exact same role aboard the newly constructed USS McCandless (DE 1084), guiding the vessel through its commissioning and shakedown operations in the Caribbean. During his active duty service, he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal and the Pistol Sharpshooter Ribbon. He then continued his service in the U.S. Navy Reserve, ultimately attaining the rank of Lieutenant (LT) before his honorable discharge on August 10, 1981. A direct descendant of Abraham Etter, Paul was a proud member of the Sons of the American Revolution, continuing a lasting family legacy of military service.

Following his time in the Navy, Paul relocated to the Washington, D.C. area to work in the defense industry. Drawing directly upon the sonar technologies and models he utilized at sea, he helped develop some of the most advanced national defense systems in the world. He became an undisputed subject matter expert in ocean-atmosphere physics and environmental acoustics, sharing his expertise at professional summits and peer-reviewing the contributions of his colleagues. Over a 45-year career spanning federal and state agencies, academia, and private industry, he authored or co-authored more than 200 technical reports and professional papers. Among his academic achievements was a forty-year sequence of review papers on acoustic modeling, meticulously published at eight-year intervals in the Journal of the Acoustical Society of America.

A lifelong student and natural teacher, Paul compiled his vast knowledge into what would become the definitive textbook in his field: Underwater Acoustic Modeling and Simulation. Originally developed from the intensive short courses he taught to professionals desiring to be on the cutting edge of acoustic modeling, the book's first edition quickly sold out. Its success culminated in a highly regarded fifth edition. His publications and books will live on as a foundational reflection of his passion, providing a framework for future professionals to build upon.

Beyond his professional and academic accolades, Paul was a loving husband, father, and grandpop. He devoted years of service as a Deacon at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Maryland. His enduring passion for intellectual growth-both for himself and those around him-elevated him to a position of great respect in his community.

Services will be held on Monday, March 9, 2026. Burial with military honors will take place at 11:00 AM at Omaha National Cemetery, 14250 Schram Rd, Omaha, NE 68138.