John M. Dugan was born and raised in Schenectady, New York on November 8, 1948. He graduated from Mont Pleasant Hight School in 1966. From there he attended Hudson Valley Community College, graduating with an Associate Degree in Banking, Insurance and Real Estate. His career in the United States Air Force began on 9 December 1968 with basic training at Lackland AFB, TX followed by Tech School at Sheppard AFB, TX. His first duty assignment was at Dover AFB, DE where he met and married his wife, Roxiann some 54 years ago. Other assignments include Misawa AB, Japan, KI Sawyer AFB, MI, City of Milwaukee, WI with Air Force Recruiting Service, Kunsan AB, South Korea and Wright Patterson AFB, OH. He retired from the Air Force active duty on 31 December 1992 as a Master Sergeant (E-7) with 24 years service.
Over the course of his career, he served in a variety of jobs beginning as an operator entering data into Military Pay (blue tube) records to duty as a Fiscal Resource Manager with million-dollar budgets in an organization specializing in communication test and evaluation with a world-wide mission. The first half of his career, was typical for the career field, culminating as Chief of Travel Pay and later as Chief of Military Pay. It was during the second half of his career he made a significant contribution to Air Force Recruiting Service. One of the duties of the Resource Manager in Recruiting Service, beyond developing budgets was to analyze costs associated with rejected applicants within the squadrons’ operating area. He developed a program using Multi-Plan (an early forerunner of Excel) which reduce the hours spent to complete the task using a calculator to approximately 15 minutes with the program while increasing data accuracy several fold. This program proved to be an effective tool for Recruiting Service commanders and operations personnel. Many Recruiting Squadrons across the count adopted this program to accomplish their analysis. For his efforts he earned the Meritorious Service Medal.
An exception to the duty of the Finance field was serving as a “full time” additional duty First Sergeant at Kunsan AB, South Korea. Hard to count how many hats a First Sergeant must wear in the course of his duties. Post military career he worked primarily in DFAS travel accounting area and Resource Management. When DFAS closed operations in Dayton, he moved to the 445 air Reserve Wing as a Reserve Pay technician.
He is a 29-year member of the American Legion serving as Post Commander on several occasions. He is also directly responsible for the three major history- based programs the local Post produces – The 4 Chaplains, Memorial Day, and Veterans Day services functioning as producer and primary emcee. He is a member of the Post Honor Guard and Rifle Squad. Typically, when the Post performs a Post Everlasting Service for a fallen Veteran, he acts as the Detail Commander. Beyond the Post, he serves as Assistant Sergeant at Arms for the 3rd District Department of Ohio. He is also the Children and Youth Chair representing the 3rd District to the Department. He is also a member of the Antioch Little Red Car parade unit while serving as the Unit Treasurer. For several years, he was the Treasurer of the Fairborn Festival Committee as well as serving as Treasurer of the Greene County, Ohio Republican Party. He serves as Precinct Captain for the Party (elected 3 times to four-year terms of office). A highlight for the Post was starting the Post Christmas morning breakfast for local 1st responders. Leaders from other Legion family units in the Post and their spouses formed the initial cadre of workers for the first and subsequent breakfasts. He is a firm promoter of the American Legion program, briefing those active-duty military newly assigned to Wright Patterson AFB and those who are leaving the service.