Thank you Dr. Gibby for everything you did for me. You changed the course of my life by providing the opportunity to grow into more than I ever thought I would be. You were a hero to me and to everyone that knew you. I have, and will continue, to tell stories of the legend that you are in my life.
Michael G. Gibby
August 8, 1946 ~ October 27, 2025
Born in:
Ogden, Utah
Resided in:
McLean, Virginia
Michael Gordon Gibby, 79, passed away peacefully on Monday, October 27, 2025, at MedStar Georgetown Hospital, after a brief but aggressive recurrence of lymphoma.
Born on August 8, 1946, in Ogden, Utah, to Adrain and Marjorie Gibby, Mike grew up with a deep love of learning and curiosity about the world around him. After spending his early years in Utah and Washington State, his family settled in Fillmore, California, where both of his parents taught school and instilled in him a lifelong respect for education, hard work, and family.
After high school, Mike attended Occidental College, where he met and courted Barbara Nogy, an energetic and whip-smart classmate who would keep him on his toes for the next six decades. At Oxy, Mike developed a strong understanding of and passion for the physical sciences, which, after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in 1968, he parlayed into graduate studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. At MIT, Mike worked with Professor John Waugh and fellow graduate student Alex Pines on a foundational technology used in magnetic resonance imaging. His work at MIT was supported by a Hertz Foundation fellowship and the help of his new wife; Mike and Barbara married in 1969.
After earning his doctorate, Mike dedicated his professional life to solving complex technical challenges for the U.S. Government. In 1972, he took a job as an analyst for the Center for Naval Analyses. In this role, Mike developed novel submarine tactics while working for Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMSUBPAC) in Pearl Harbor, HI, developed anti-submarine tactics and performed post-exercise reconstruction for Commander, Submarine Group 8 (COMSUBGRU 8) and Carrier Task Force 60 in Naples, Italy, and analyzed intelligence for Commander In Chief, U.S. Naval Forces, Europe (CINCUSNAVEUR) in London, England, managing his time between work, time at sea, and building a family. While in England, Mike was loaned to the Royal Navy to carry out analysis of air battles during the Falklands conflict. Using his meticulous attention to detail, his analysis bucked conventional wisdom, resulting in new and important insights into the conduct of modern air war at sea. Mike’s effort during operation CORPORATE yielded praise of his professionalism and conduct from the highest levels of the Royal Navy.
In 1985, he founded Arion Systems, Inc., providing technical services and consulting for the U.S. Defense and Intelligence communities. To this endeavor, Mike brought his high standards for technical discipline, ingenuity, and integrity. Starting from his basement in McLean, VA, Mike grew his business into an enterprise of more than 120 employees (including two of his sons) supporting multiple federal agencies. In his role as a leader, Mike preached the importance of the customer’s mission above all else, establishing a culture that matched his values. Mike never retired, working until the week before he passed.
Beyond his career, Mike lived life with curiosity, discipline, and generosity. He was an avid runner, competing in marathons across the globe, starting with the Athens marathon in 1977, which he trained for on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier. His marathoning continued in London, Paris, Rome, and Boston, culminating in his final marathon in 2016 at age 70. He most frequently competed in Washington, DC’s Marine Corps Marathon, twice winning his age group. A passionate collector of old-world wines, he found joy in their complexity, history and craft. He spent his free time studying French and exploring the world one step at a time on many hikes through historic and picturesque locales.
Mike was a champion of the sciences in small colleges, endowing a chaired professorship at Occidental College. He returned to Oxy in 2019 as a member of the Board of Trustees.
Mike will be remembered for his intellect, fairness, and silly sense of humor—but most of all for his unwavering devotion to his family. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Barbara; his sons Alexander (Katherine), Aaron (Elizabeth), and Andrew (Elisha); six lively grandchildren who entertained and challenged their grandfather; and his brothers Reed, Bruce, and Douglas. He was preceded in death by his parents and sisters Elaine, Sharon, Diane, and Irene.
A celebration of Mike’s life will be held on Saturday, December 13, at 1:00 p.m. at Lewinsville Presbyterian Church in McLean, Virginia. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Mike’s name to Lewinsville Presbyterian Church Foundation https://www.lewinsville.org/lewinsville-foundation/ or Occidental College Norris Hall Renovation Fund https://giving.oxy.edu/gibbymemorial
Services
Memorial Service: December 13, 2025 1:00 pm
Lewinsville Presbyterian Church
1724 Chain Bridge Road
McLean, VA 22101
(703) 356-7200
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2025-12-13 13:00:00
2025-12-13 13:00:00
MichaelG.GibbyMemorial Service
Memorial Service
1724 Chain Bridge Road,McLean, VA 22101
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