Christopher Thomas Kucera passed away on July 22, 2024, with his partner, Zachary Cade Hatcher, in an airplane accident in Islip, New York. They were residents of King George, Virginia, at White Plains, an historic mansion ca. 1780. They had restored White Plains together and then provided the evidence for its placement on the National Historic Registry. Chris and Zach were also active in the Fredericksburg community, where they were respected and well-loved.
Chris was born May 10, 1978, in Mobile Alabama, and grew up in Middlesex County, Va., on the Rappahannock River. He was an Eagle Scout, EAA Cadet, and a 1996 graduate of Middlesex High School. He continued his education at Virginia Tech, where he received a BS in Aerospace Engineering in 2000 and a commission as 2LT in the Virginia Militia from the Corps of Cadets (ROTC). Chris had already received his private pilot license at age 17 and later added Multi-Engine, Instrument, and Commercial ratings.
His initial employment was with Booz Allen Hamilton in the Colorado Springs, Colo., area. In 2003, Chris joined Analytic Graphics, Inc. (AGI), as a software developer of Satellite Tool Kit, supporting satellite and communications applications. He returned to Virginia in 2008 to support AGI’s Defense Department and Intelligence Community customers. In 2015, he co-founded OneSky Systems, Inc., with the mission of safely integrating Uncrewed Air Systems (UAS) and Urban Air Mobility (UAM) in the global airspace. In 2019, the new company was spun out of AGI with Chris providing leadership as OneSky’s Vice-President of Strategy. OneSky earned worldwide recognition. One professional affiliate in Korea has said, “His death is a great loss, not only for his company, but for humanity around the world.”
Chris loved gardening, maintaining historic White Plains, cooking, hosting social gatherings with Zach, painting with watercolors, flying, loving his dog, Bo, and his cat Bennie Boo. Having grown up on the water, he enjoyed any opportunity for boating, fishing, and hanging out with his siblings and friends. Chris’ generous heart, humor, infectious laugh, compassion, and love of life will be sorely missed. Children saw that Chris loved with a truly open heart and was curious about everything. He loved being with children of family and friends.
Chris leaves behind many who share treasured memories of him, his father, Peter Garrett Kucera (Karen); mother, Mary Ryan Kucera (“Shelley”); siblings, Mary Kathryn Bienfang, Peter Ryan Kucera (Kristie), Michael Garrett Kucera (Penny); uncles, aunts, cousins, and adored nieces and nephews: Schyler, Joseph, Sean (Gabby), Colette, Ellis, and his great-nephew, Elias.
A Celebration of Life will take place on September 6, at 3:00 p.m., at the University of Mary Washington’s Jepson Alumni Executive Center, in Fredericksburg, Va.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the following organizations:
The EAA Chapter 231, c/o Nancy Russell, 14634 Stone Trace Drive, Montpelier, VA 23192
Downtown Greens, 206 Charles Street, Fredericksburg, VA 22401
