In Memoriam: Osmund "Ozzie" F. Belcher, CFCC, Fellow of AACE International
The AACE International community mourns the passing of Osmund "Ozzie" F. Belcher — a devoted professional, a generous spirit, and one of the most dedicated servant-leaders our organization has ever known.
Ozzie's journey with AACE began in 1989, and from the moment he joined, he gave of himself without reservation. Over the course of more than three decades, he rose through the ranks of the National Capital Section, serving the Washington, D.C. area as an officer and ultimately as Section President — a reflection of the deep trust and respect his peers placed in him.
His leadership at the national level was equally distinguished. Ozzie served on the AACE Board of Directors as Director, Region 2 (1998-2000), then as Vice President-Regions (2000-2002), before ascending to President-Elect (2002-2003), President (2003-2004), and Past President (2004-2005). As President, he guided AACE with the same precision and care he brought to every endeavor — and he did so with characteristic grace and warmth. Even after completing his Board service, he continued volunteering through the Government Liaison Committee, because for Ozzie, service to AACE was never simply a title to hold. It was a calling to answer.
In 2008, AACE recognized the full measure of his contributions by electing him a Fellow of AACE International — the organization's highest honor — a distinction he had more than earned.
Ozzie also left a lasting imprint on the profession itself. He was a member of the task force that developed the Certified Forensic Claims Consultant (CFCC) certification, helping to shape a credential that has since become a cornerstone of the claims and disputes specialty. When the CFCC launched in 2007, Ozzie was grandfathered in as one of its first holders — a fitting tribute to the foundational work he had contributed.
In his professional life, Ozzie helped build Belstar, Inc. into a respected firm and served as its President and Principal, overseeing complex cost estimating, scheduling, project management, and dispute resolution work across an extraordinary range of project types — airports, transit systems, hospitals, bridges, schools, and more. A proud graduate of the Virginia Military Institute, where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and played on the VMI football team, Ozzie carried the discipline, integrity, and team spirit of that institution throughout every chapter of his career.
Those who knew Ozzie personally will remember not just his professional excellence, but his extraordinary generosity of spirit. He was an avid coin collector, and he had a wonderful habit of sharing that passion — gifting commemorative coins to AACE members and staff as tokens of friendship and appreciation. That gesture reached its most memorable expression at the 2004 AACE Annual Meeting, held at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C., during his presidency. In true Ozzie fashion, he ensured that his company, Belstar, provided commemorative coins to every single attendee — a gift as thoughtful and lasting as the man himself.
Ozzie Belcher was the kind of person who made every room warmer, every organization stronger, and every colleague feel valued. He embodied what AACE stands for — technical excellence, professional integrity, and a deep commitment to the people around him.
He will be profoundly missed and gratefully remembered.