Colonel Conrad was born in Baltimore, Maryland. He began his 30-year Army career in 1944 and served in the Pacific during World War II. Later, he served in Korea and Vietnam during the wars there and in Germany and France. For most of his Army career, he was a personnel and logistics officer. He served 10 years in the Washington area, including duty in the office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

He graduated from the University of Maryland and received a master's degree in business management from Babson College and a second master's, in international relations, from George Washington University. He was a graduate of the Command and General Staff College and the Naval War College.

He retired from the Army in 1974. His military decorations included the Legion of Merit with oak-leaf cluster and a Bronze Star with oak-leaf cluster.

Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Evelyn Conrad of Alexandria; two children, Karlene Conrad of Alexandria and Cynthia Schafer of Annandale; three grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.