Captain Brent Bushong was born in Pierceton, Indiana on October 3, 1931. He graduated from Purdue University in May 1953, was commissioned as an ensign in the U.S. Navy and entered naval flight training.

During his career he amassed over 6,000 flight hours and 400 carrier landings. As a commander he commanded the Navy's largest carrier squadron (VAW-111) with 150 officers and 600 enlisted men. His career highlights included: participation in the fleet introduction of the E-2 "Hawkeye" (radar) carrier aircraft, graduation from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces with honors (top 10%), and three carrier deployments to Vietnam.

As executive officer of USS INCHON (LPH-12) he participated in an around-the-world cruise and cleared Haiphong Harbor and the Suez Canal of mines. He retired from the Navy in 1975. He taught school and worked as a naval weapons systems consultant from 1978 until he retired in 1984. He was a member of The Association of Naval Aviators, and a life member of the National Eagle Scout Association. He was married to the former Dorothy Bridges Medlen. Captain Bushong was killed in a motorcycle accident October 23,2003.