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.