John A. Lauder
August 31, 1946 ~ July 20, 2026
Born in:
Sandusky, Ohio
Resided in:
Oakton, Virginia
John A. Lauder of Oakton, Virginia passed away on the morning of July 20, 2026. He is survived by his beloved wife of 50 years, Susan M. Lauder, his three children: Kristen (Peter), David (Michelle), and Jonathan (Dana), his cherished grandchildren (Abigail and Jacqueline), and his several much-loved grand dogs.
Born in Sandusky Ohio in 1946, John graduated Summa Cum Laude from Hiram College and earned an M.A. in International Relations from Yale. He devoted his professional life to public service retiring with over 33 years of leadership, analysis, and policy experience with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), and as an arms control negotiator. As part of his government career, he was stationed in Vienna, Austria for four years as a negotiator with MBFR (Mutual and Balanced Force Reductions). In recognition of his exceptional contributions to the United States Intelligence Community, John was awarded the Distinguished Career Intelligence Medal, the Distinguished Intelligence Medal, the NRO Gold Medal, and the Director of Central Intelligence’s Award. Moreover, he was a treasured colleague known for his keen insights, unfailing optimism, and ever-present radiant smile.
Upon retirement, John continued to work on shaping research and strategic planning in the public and private sectors, including as a member of government, academic, laboratory, and nonprofit advisory panels. He helped lead influential studies to improve intelligence on weapons of mass destruction and to facilitate verification of international agreements. John remained deeply committed to his alma matter, Hiram College, where he was proud to be one of the founders of the Garfield Center for Public Leadership.
Nothing, however, brought him more joy than his family. He loved to travel the world with Susan visiting historical sites, sampling local cuisine, and exploring new cultures. John cherished his time with his amazing children and grandchildren and was always up for an ice cream outing. He loved a good “road trip” with family and spent many summer days setting up a “base camp” at the Outer Banks. This last summer, his granddaughters brought the vacation vibes to Oakton and decorated his house with a beach theme – a fitting tribute to a man who often joked that he was not retired, but simply serving as a professional granddad.
Although John will be deeply missed, his legacy of service to his country and devotion to family will continue to inspire all those who had the privilege to call him husband, father, grandfather, colleague, and friend. He was a great American.
A Celebration of Life will be held at the Tower Club in Tysons Corner on September 13 at 1:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Garfield Center for Public Leadership at Hiram College https://www.hiram.edu/academics/centers-of-distinction/the-garfield-center-for-public-leadership/, the World Central Kitchen
https://wck.org/, or to Doctors Without Borders https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org.
Services
Celebration of Life: September 13, 2026 1:00 pm
Tower Club - Tysons Corner
8000 Towers Crescent Dr Ste 1700
Vienna, VA 22182
703-761-4250
View current weather.
Memories Timeline
Guestbook
Sign the Guestbook, Light a Candle
Dear Susan family: John Lauder was a valued colleague and friend at CIA for over three decades. He was a widely respected expert across the USG in arms-control and counterproliferation issues. He was admired at CIA as a prolific manager, analyst, writer, and briefer as well as an instinctively collaborative co-worker and a readily accessible and sensitive mentor of our younger generation. He was beloved for his always positive disposition, his can-do attitude, and his well-practiced sense of humor. John’s professional accomplishments are legion, but I will remember him most for his generous personal qualities. As his family, knows, John was as a man of strong moral character and basic human decency. I was blessed to know him
John was such a wonderful, warm neighbor to our family. We always enjoyed talking with him, and he always displayed a bright smile, enthusiasm, and a sunny disposition..He seldom talked about his career or himself, but often talked with affection about his family. Your family has our deepest condolences.
Jen and Josh Fowkes