Irvin LaGrange Bridgewater

Irvin “Irv” “Butch” Bridgewater III, 77, a State Department Officer for 15 years and Engineering Project Manager for 15 years died of complications of bone marrow cancer on February 21, 2021. He was a native of Huntington, WV.



Irv began his career as a Military Police officer detailed to the 68th Armor Group at Fort Knox, Kentucky where he served as a tank platoon leader in the 4th Battalion. Upon completion of his detail service he was assigned to the Post’s Provost Marshal’s office just prior to being assigned overseas in 1968, to the Republic of South Vietnam.



While in Vietnam, Irv served as the Battalion Adjutant for the 93rd MP Battalion, Qui Nhon, Vietnam, and also as the Deputy Provost Marshal, 97th MP Battalion, Nha Trang, Vietnam. On his return from Vietnam, Irv was assigned as the Commanding Officer, 4th Criminal Investigation Detachment, Fort Myer, Virginia.



In 1970, Mr. Bridgewater began his career with the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security, as a Special Agent in the Washington, DC field office. Early in his career, Irv was selected to serve as a member of then Secretary of State, William P. Rogers, personal protective detail.



After serving on Secretary Roger’s personal protective detail, Irv was assigned as the Deputy Regional Security Officer, New Delhi, India. Mr. Bridgewater provided security related services for the embassies in Islamabad, Pakistan; Katmandu, Nepal; Dacca, Bangladesh; Kabul, Afghanistan; and Colombo, Sri Lanka.



Due to the rise of terrorist activity in the Middle East, Mr. Bridgewater was transferred to the American Embassy in Kuwait, Kuwait. In his position as the Regional Security Officer, Irv was responsible for personal and physical security for those Foreign Service personnel assigned to Kuwait in addition to individuals serving in the former British Trucial states of Manama, Bahrain; Doha, Qatar; Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; and Muscat, Oman.



Following Mr. Bridgewater’s Middle Eastern assignment, he assumed the role of Deputy Chief of Training, Washington, DC.

For his dedication and management skills in overseeing his staff of Special Agents responsible for providing training to new Special Agents and Foreign Service officers, Irv was presented the State Department’s Superior Honor award.



Prior to his last overseas assignment as the Regional Security Office, Budapest, Hungary, Mr. Bridgewater served as the Special Protective Equipment Officer, Division of Technical Services, Washington, DC. In this capacity, Mr. Bridgewater was responsible for the testing, evaluation, and acquisition of protective equipment and armored vehicles used by Special Agents and embassy personnel throughout the world.



In 1985, Mr. Bridgewater joined Law Engineering and Environmental Services, Inc. In his role of Project Manager, Mr. Bridgewater was involved in all phases of engineering assignments from the development of project documents, preparation of specifications, performing job submittals and bid review, construction management, to the submittal of the final report. Prestigious projects include such nationally recognized sites as The White House Executive Mansion, Ronald Reagan National Airport, Georgetown University, Harper’s Ferry National Historic Park, the Watergate, and the Smithsonian Museums.



Mr. Bridgewater had a passion for dogs, particularly Basset Hounds. For sixteen years, he served as a volunteer with the Basset Rescue of the Old Dominion (BROOD) and the Basset Hound Rescue League of Maryland.



Mr. Bridgewater was a life member of Masonic Lodge East and West, New Delhi, India, and a member of Roland Chadwick Lodge, Ahmadi, Kuwait.



Mr. Bridgewater was preceded in death by his wife of 34 years, Rose Marie Hayes Bridgewater, in February 2002; and his beloved poodle Trixie in December 2020. Survivors include a daughter, Stephanie of Vienna, VA; a son, Eric, of Arlington, VA; and a son in-law, Brian Berry.