Colonel Dugard was a career United States Air Force Officer, a Command Pilot with over 5600 hours of flying time in various aircraft including the B-47, B-52, F-102, U-2 and the supersonic B-58 Hustler. He served as a Strategic Air Command Wing Commander for three wings, including the last combat wing in southeast Asia, The second of his two tours in support of the Vietnam War. He was a squadron commander of a B-52 squadron and flew combat missions over North Vietnam targets to include during Linebacker II over Hanoi. His final position in the Air Force was as the 15th Air Force Director of Operations. Upon retirement he became a high school administrator and teacher.