I am afraid that I must announce with sorrow the passing of Douglas Lance Hatcher -- Hatch, Vice Admiral of Engineering Division.

Local news sources report that Doug died in a recreational vehicle crash on August 9, 2021, just three months away from retiring from his job as a supervisory agent with the U.S. Border Patrol in Uvalde, Texas. (See https://www.uvaldeleadernews.com/articles/friends-mourn-loss-of-u-s-border-patrol-agent-hatcher/; https://www.ticklethewire.com/tag/douglas-hatcher/.) Age 50, he was survived by his two adult sons. Condolences may be shared with his family at https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituar ... r-10307418 (see Add a Memory link there).

Hatch joined 12th fleet in November 2010, starting in Tactical Division. After going inactive for 2014 due to interference from RL; he rejoined the fleet in March 2015 and switched to Engineering Division. When drama struck the fleet in August of 2015, Hatch was an advocate for calm, making it clear his intention was to stick with 12th. In October 2015, Hatch became Captain of Charlie squad Engineering, and a month later he was promoted to Fleet Captain while retaining his CO role over Charlie. In April 2016, he was promoted to Rear Admiral of Engineering. When Aukora stepped down as Vice Admiral of Engineering in May 2016, Hatch stepped into the breach and was elected by the division members to the VA post.

Hatch shone in his role as Vice Admiral. He was a reliable voice of reason in the Officers Lounge. He was a regular and welcome participant on the forum, Discord, and in game. He kept up on the sometimes-tedious administration of what was the largest division in the fleet. He took on the unheralded burden of regularly updating the fleet recruitment thread in the ARC/STO forum. Always willing to help, Hatch was a leader who understood that to lead meant to serve. Hatch was a bulwark of the fleet who will be sorely missed.

Salute!

Amicus, Fleet Executive Officer
12th Fleet