Andrew Vestal

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Andrew James Vestal, 33, passed away after suffering a coronary event Monday, Sept. 25, 2023.

Petty Officer Vestal graduated with his bachelor's degree from Southeast Missouri State University in 2013. Answering the nation's call, he chose to enlist in the U.S. Navy on Nov. 14, 2013.

After graduating from the Cryptologic Technician "A" School, he was immediately selected for the National Security Agency's Global Targeting And Tracking Center in Colorado. In August 2015, he screened and was selected for the U.S. Navy's Tactical Information Operations (TIO) Program and was assigned to Special Reconnaissance Team 1 in San Diego.

As a quiet, dedicated professional, he qualified as both a geospatial analyst/small unmanned radio frequency receiver operator and as a TIO operator, providing direct support to Naval Special Warfare. He led his operational team through multiple deployments, including those with SEAL Teams 1 and 7 in the CENTCOM and INDOPACOM areas of responsibility. His leadership and expertise were instrumental in dismantling terror networks and removing violent extremists from the battlefield.

Having completed his tours with Naval Special Warfare, he was selected for duty with the U.S. Navy's 3rd Fleet in San Diego in 2021. Andy was an invaluable member of the Intelligence and Information Operations directorate. His deep experience in tactical signals intelligence and operational focus made him a natural and gifted special intelligence correlator (SICOR) on the 3rd Fleet Battlespace Awareness Watch, where he provided critical indications and warning intelligence to the Three-Star Fleet Staff, as well as to subordinate units across the entire Pacific basin. A senior analyst, he had recently been assigned to the Cryptologic Analysis Support Element (CASE) at 3rd Fleet, providing deeper levels of analytic rigor to the Fleet's collection tasking and performance.

"Petty Officer Vestal was among our top analysts, a leader among our cryptologic team and a mentor to junior sailors throughout the command. He was our Shipmate."

Andy is survived by his parents, James and Julie Vestal; grandfathers, James Vestal and Joseph M. Quinn Jr.; and his brother, Aaron Rice.

He was preceded in death by his grandmothers, Doris Vestal and Carole Quinn.

A visitation will be from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 13, at Maple Hill Funeral Home in Kansas City. A celebration of life will follow at 11:30 a.m.

Burial, with military honors, will begin at 1:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 13, at Leavenworth National Cemetery in Leavenworth, Kansas.