July 11, 2023
Long-time Associated Press Pentagon Correspondent
The Passing of Fred Hoffman
Dear USNPAA Members,
I’m very saddened to report the death of a Pentagon media icon—Mr. Fred Hoffman. Fred died recently at the age of 100.
Most USNPAA members may not have known Fred or had the opportunity to work with him. But to those of us who did, we knew Fred was the consummate newsman. To say he was extraordinary would be an understatement.
Fred was the Pentagon AP reporter when I reported to the CHINFO News Desk in 1973. I quickly learned that Fred was almost all-knowing with a filing system that contained an amazing amount of information, including every story he ever did. And mind you, this was in the era of the manual typewriter and steel filing cabinets. Fred could retrieve anything from those filing cabinets—and quickly .
Anyone who ever dealt with Fred respected him deeply and learned from him. His professionalism was exceptional—always accurate and fair. More importantly, he was a wonderful human being.
After retiring from the AP, he served as the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs) for Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger.
May Fred rest in peace.
Tom Jurkowsky
President
Obituary
More Notes from the Admiral
Long-time Associated Press Pentagon Correspondent
The Passing of Fred Hoffman
Dear USNPAA Members,
I’m very saddened to report the death of a Pentagon media icon—Mr. Fred Hoffman. Fred died recently at the age of 100.
Most USNPAA members may not have known Fred or had the opportunity to work with him. But to those of us who did, we knew Fred was the consummate newsman. To say he was extraordinary would be an understatement.
Fred was the Pentagon AP reporter when I reported to the CHINFO News Desk in 1973. I quickly learned that Fred was almost all-knowing with a filing system that contained an amazing amount of information, including every story he ever did. And mind you, this was in the era of the manual typewriter and steel filing cabinets. Fred could retrieve anything from those filing cabinets—and quickly .
Anyone who ever dealt with Fred respected him deeply and learned from him. His professionalism was exceptional—always accurate and fair. More importantly, he was a wonderful human being.
After retiring from the AP, he served as the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs) for Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger.
May Fred rest in peace.
Tom Jurkowsky
President
Obituary
More Notes from the Admiral