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George M. “Mickey” Kappes, 93, of Merritt Island, FL passed away on March 23, 2025. He was born in The Bronx, NY and graduated from Cardinal Hayes H.S. in The Bronx in 1950. He then earned an appointment to the U. S. Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, NY and graduated in August 1954 with a B.S. Degree in Marine Engineering, a 3rd Assistant Engineer’s License in the Merchant Marine and a commission as an Ensign in the U.S. Navy. He served three years at sea in the Merchant Marine and two years on active duty as an EOD/Diving Officer in the U.S. Navy. After Naval service, he resided for two years in Havana, Cuba operating a plastics manufacturing business but the harassment by the Cuban communist government forced him to flee to Miami especially after exfiltrating by boat to Key West a high ranking, anti-communist Castro official to Key West. When passing through Miami, Mickey was contacted and recruited by the Central Intelligence Agency in late 1960. This led to a 45-year career (including a post-retirement contract) with the CIA as a Senior Operations Officer with assignments all over the globe, including many war zones, in Intelligence Collection and Paramilitary Operations. He was awarded the Career Intelligence Medal and the Intelligence Commendation Medal, and also participated in a Unit Citation in a War Zone Country. Following his retirement from the CIA, Mickey worked at Rocky Flats Nuclear Weapons Plant near Golden, Colorado as a Senior Security Manager for four years after which he returned to CIA duty as a Contract Officer for 14 years teaching Intelligence Tradecraft in a number of overseas countries including many War Zones.