John Tracy DuGene
08 June 1956 through 24 June 2024
Father: Robert Linder DuGene
Mother: Jean Marie DuGene
Sister: Leslie Carol (DuGene) Gerber (deceased in 2022)
Survived by Niece Nicole Beth Gerber, Half-Brother R.J. Guiney and Half-Sister Marianne Guiney Christian.
Civil Engineering Degree from Purdue in 1978.
Member of Purdue Varsity Rowing Team (“Crew”). Earned a place on the 1978 US National Team, competing in the World Championships in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Studied at the Royal Navy War College, Greenwich, England
Earned his Master’s Degree of Political Science at UNLV, while seconded to the Air Force in Las Vegas.
Earned his MBA at Cornell University.
26 Years of Service in the US Navy.
Last Commanding Officer of the VF-45 “Blackbirds” Fighter Squadron. Flew many aircraft types including F-5E, F-8, F-14, F/A-18.
One of John’s crowning achievements was being Air Boss on the USS Carl Vinson
Provided Air Cover and protected ground troops during Desert Storm.
Esteemed member of and advisor to the US Naval War College.
John’s last posting was as the commander of JWAC (Joint Warfare Analysis Center).
After retirement from the US Navy, John poured his energy into a variety of activities including, meditation, physical conditioning, mountaineering on several continents, travel, and the study of Argentinian Tango.
Post retirement, he also went on to earn his Associate’s Degree in Aircraft Maintenance and Manufacture at Spartan College, Denver, so he could volunteer his services at a local aircraft museum.
Two of John’s most generous and altruistic post-Navy pursuits were his teaching Math and Basic Life Skills at Homeboy Industries in East L.A., the largest gang intervention, re-habilitation, and re-entry program in the world; as well as teaching the same to inmates at the Boulder County jail.
John was a philanthropic individual, generously sharing his hard-earned resources with many organizations ranging from aviation museums, cancer research centers, and cultural centers honoring the history of those who came before us.
Above all, John was an extremely humble individual whose engaging smile made those he met feel welcomed from the onset.
John will be missed by all those who were fortunate to have known him as a teammate, colleague and friend.
Blue skies forever, Commander John.
WOW, what a beautiful job, Chris, Joan, and Anne! I felt the joy and John’s love of life in this tribute. Thank you for being so committed to this remarkable man. We are grieving his passing and regret that we only knew him for a few short years, as he was one of our favorite neighbors and humans! You eloquently captured his graciousness and humility; thank you.
Hello from Brazil!
Great tribute. I hope you rest in peace now, John.
I never met him, but he was a friend of my deceased father, and I remember as a child of them both exchanging letters in the 90’s and how my father was happy to get news from John! I also remember how nicely he hosted my parents during a trip to Florida. It has been a lot of years, and I don’t know why his name came to my mind today. But I feel sad for missing him for a few months.
I’m sure that you will always be remembered as a good person by your friends, John!