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Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:
Mr. Jack Duffey

John (Jack) G. Duffey has devoted his career to aerospace. Jack (Lt Col USAF) served from 1964-1984. His principal assignments focused on “big-picture” strategic and tactical aerospace issues of the day. Beginning his career as an F-106 flight line maintenance officer, he moved rapidly on to assignments in the USAF Systems Command, addressing Vietnam-era issues of air-to-air combat tactics (F-4-vs-Mig-21) and Israeli F-4E/Seekbat-vs-Foxbat. He also formulated F-105G Wild-weasel anti-SAM tactics and C-130 flair infrared decoy dispenser schemes. Following the war, Jack’s efforts focused on high-energy laser (HEL) applications, including the first studies investigating the use of HEL on tactical fighters (F-15). He developed the engagement scenarios for the first HEL demos that resulted in successfully (1) destroying a target drone and, (2) crippling an in-flight AIM-9B infrared missile “attacking” the USAF Airborne Laser Lab.
Following a transfer to the Air Staff (Pentagon), he made contributions in NATO air defense systems (UK Rapier) for defense of USAF F-111 bases in UK. He also provided key deployment/tactics doctrine for multi service theatre air defense of the Persian Gulf in the early ‘80s. He made other contributions to mobile ICBM deployment options and NATO cruise missile defense schemes. Jack completed his USAF career at the Space Command, where he played key roles in NORAD air defense, space defense, and “Star Wars” (SDI).
In the 20 years following his USAF career, he has worked in the aerospace industry as a principal analyst addressing such topics as CONUS air defense against sub-launched cruise missiles, Atlas launch system, NASA Lunar-Mars Exploration space transportation, International Space Station logistics servicing, Single Stage to Orbit (VentureStar), and orbital space planes for NASA and USAF.