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Former Air Force Times editor Jim Wolffe dies

Jim Wolffe, who traded an Air Force Times editor’s office to work as special assistant to a secretary of the Air Force, died Tuesday at age 52. His daughter, Katie Wolffe, said he was diagnosed with stomach cancer seven months ago.

After spending 20 years working at Air Force Times and sister publications, Wolffe took a job as special assistant to Secretary of the Air Force Whitt Peters in November 1998.

He told co-workers at the time that he struggled with a decision that turned on his desire to work in government and “have an effect on policy-making.”

“I view this as sort of trading in one form of public service for another,” he said.

When Peters left office in 2001 with the arrival of President Bush’s administration, Wolffe continued as an Air Force civilian. Most recently, he was director of staff for the Air Force District of Washington, headquartered at Andrews Air Force Base, Md.

Wolffe served as Air Force Times’ managing editor from July 1996 to late 1998.

Tobias Naegele, editor in chief of Army Times Publishing Co., called him “an unforgettable character, a man of many opinions who loved a good laugh.”

Naegele, who began at the company in 1992 as Wolffe’s counterpart at Navy Times, said Wolfe, “was the most welcoming person in the newsroom when I arrived, and we became good friends and friendly rivals for a number of years.”

Air Force Times columnist Robert F. Dorr called Wolffe “a model of tranquil, easygoing grace.”

Before moving to Air Force Times, Wolffe spent seven years as editor of the Times News Service, where he was responsible for directing the company’s coverage of Defense Department-wide issues, Congress, the Department of Veterans Affairs and other areas that affect members from all of the services and their families. He was also instrumental in crafting the papers’ coverage of the post-Cold War drawdown.

Wolffe is a 1977 honor graduate of George Washington University, Washington, D.C., with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and minors in political science and Spanish.

He is also survived by his wife, Sharyn, of Clifton, Va.; a son, Michael; and another daughter, Rachel.

Funeral services are planned for 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Burke Presbyterian Church in Burke, Va.