Frank Cornelius “Joe” Khare, Jr., died on August 8, 2025, at Sunrise of Frederick, MD. The only child of Frank Cornelius Khare, Sr., and Catherine Louise (Hooper) Khare, he was born on July 24, 1944, in Charleston, SC.
Joe was an athlete at Irmo, A. C. Flora, and Walterboro High Schools. He lettered in football, basketball, baseball, and track. He played in the 1961 Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas in Charlotte, NC, and the North-South game in Columbia, SC, in 1962.
He attended The Citadel for three years on a football scholarship and was a cadet in Tango Company, Class of 1966. He graduated from the University of South Carolina in 1970 with a major in political science.
On September 18, 1965, he enlisted in the South Carolina Air National Guard (SCANG) with the goal of being a fighter pilot like his father had been during World War II. Over the next 25 years he became a command pilot, flying the F-102, A-7, and F-16 for over 3,000 hours. During the Vietnam War he deployed to Thailand in 1969. For the SCANG, he served as a Maintenance Staff Officer, 169th Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron and Deputy Commander for Maintenance, Deputy Commander for Operations, and Commander, 169th Tactical Fighter Group. He also worked as a full-time technician at the McEntire ANG Station, Eastover, SC.
In 1990 he became the Chief of Personnel, ANG, at the National Guard Bureau, where he managed a $2.1 billion program for a force of over 110,000 military personnel. In 1993 he was selected as the first ANG advisor to the Reserve Forces Policy Board. He completed the Senior Officials in National Security course at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, in 1994.
He was the recipient of the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, and Vietnam Service Medal.
Upon retirement as a colonel in 1997, Joe joined GRC International, Inc., in marketing and business development. He supported numerous information management system projects to include the modernization of the Army wholesale and retail logistics systems.
In 1999 he joined American Systems International Corporation, where he served as Director of Emerging Technologies, then as Vice President for Air Force Operations. In 2000 he received a M.S. degree in information management with a specialty in telecommunications from the University of Maryland University College and certification as a Chief Information Officer by the General Services Administration and University of Maryland. He served as the only IT-oriented representative on the Corporate Advisory Panel of the National Guard Association of the U.S.; Secretary, then Vice President for the Minuteman Institute for National Defense Studies; and Vice President for Air, National Guard Bureau Alumni Association.
In August 2001, he formed Mace Enterprises, LLC, in Kearneysville, WV, and acted as its President until March 2014. In this capacity he served as a consultant to companies that specialize in defense and homeland security.
He was a member of the Order of Daedalians, National Guard Association of the U. S., Air and Space Forces Association, and American Legion. For the National Society Sons of the American Revolution, he served as President, General Adam Stephen Chapter; as Secretary-Treasurer, then President, West Virginia State Society; and on several national-level committees. He received the Patriot Medal for exceptional service to the Society.
Joe is survived by his wife, Cheryl Alexander Brown; son, Chris Khare, and wife, Noelle; daughter, Laura Behre, and husband, Robert; and grandsons Henry Khare, Bergen Khare, Fuller Behre, and Hall Behre.
A graveside service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on August 23, 2025, at Elmwood Cemetery, Shepherdstown, WV, with Rev. Gethin Wied officiating. In case of inclement weather, the service will be held at Trinity Episcopal Church in Shepherdstown. Brown Funeral Home will oversee arrangements. Friends will be received following the service in the Trinity Episcopal Church Fellowship Hall.
Special thanks are given to Dr. Matt Taylor, Sarah Chittum, Brianne Jones, and Megan Pine of Pivot Physical Therapy, in Shepherdstown for adding active, meaningful years to Joe’s life.
Memorials may be made to The Citadel Foundation, 171 Moultrie Street, Charleston, SC 29409 or the Shepherd University football team, Shepherd University Foundation, PO Box 5000, Shepherdstown, WV 25443.