Douglas Gordon Grafflin

CAPTAIN DOUGLAS GORDON GRAFFLIN, JR.
U.S. Air Force Academy Class of 1959
Cadet Squadron: CS-09

Early Life and Journey to the Academy
Douglas Gordon Grafflin, Jr. was born on October 2, 1936, carrying a strong family legacy of leadership and service. He grew up in New York, where his father, Douglas Gordon Grafflin, Sr., was a prominent educator and beloved public school principal (for whom the Douglas G. Grafflin Elementary School in Chappaqua, New York, was posthumously named). Raised with values of integrity, academic excellence, and civic duty, Doug was naturally drawn to the challenge of a lifetime: entering the newly established United States Air Force Academy.

Arriving with the historic "First Class" of 1959, Doug joined Cadet Squadron 9. He immersed himself in the foundational military, athletic, and academic rigors of the young institution. He proudly helped shape early Academy traditions, playing a personal role in cementing the Cadet Honor Code and choosing the falcon as the enduring symbol of USAFA's air supremacy. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science on June 3, 1959, earning his commission as a Second Lieutenant.

MILITARY CAREER AND AIR FORCE SERVICE
Following graduation, Lt. Grafflin immediately entered Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT) at Malden Air Base, completing his introductory flight phases between 1959 and 1960. He subsequently transitioned to Mather Air Force Base, California, where he completed specialized advanced Navigator Training from 1960 to 1961.

Equipped with dual aviation perspectives, Doug was assigned to tactical reconnaissance. From 1961 to 1964, he served as a Navigator with the 19th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron. During this high-stakes Cold War window, he deployed overseas, operating out of RAF Bruntingthorpe in the United Kingdom and Toul-Rosières Air Base in France. Flying critical recon profiles, his sharp attention to detail kept his crews safe and missions precise.

Upon returning to the United States in 1964, he was assigned to the 363rd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina. Promoted to Captain, he served with distinction as a Staff Navigator until his honorable separation from active duty in 1967.

POST-MILITARY CAREER AND CORPORATE LEADERSHIP
Transitioning his tactical acumen to civilian operations, Doug entered the financial sector back home in New York. From 1965 to 1968, he served as the Director of Trading Floor Support and Operations Manager for the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), guiding mission-critical infrastructure through high-volume eras.

In 1973, he brought his precision leadership to the frontline of financial technology infrastructure, stepping in as the Director of Systems Assurance and Director of Communication Support for the Securities Industry Automation Corporation (SIAC) in New York City. His strategic foresight ensured the stability of key technological architecture backing global markets.

PERSONAL LIFE AND LEGACY
Doug was remembered by friends, family, and classmates as a grounded, sharp-witted patriot who loved the outdoors, deep intellectual conversation, and serving his community. He passed away on June 21, 2013, at the age of 76. His name is permanently etched on the USAFA Class of 1959 Roster, holding a lasting place of honor among the bold pioneers who laid the foundation for generations of Long Blue Lines to follow.

EDUCATION
Year Degree / Training Institution
1955 - 1959 Bachelor of Science, Engineering Sciences United States Air Force Academy
1959 - 1960 Undergraduate Pilot Training Malden Air Base
1960 - 1961 Advanced Navigator Training Mather Air Force Base

SERVICE ASSIGNMENTS
Years Duty Position Location
1959 - 1960 Student, Pilot Training Malden Air Base
1960 - 1961 Student, Navigator Training Mather Air Force Base
1961 - 1964 Navigator, 19th Tactical Reconnaissance Sq. RAF Bruntingthorpe (UK) / Toul Air Base (FR)
1964 - 1967 Staff Navigator, 363rd Tactical Recon Wing Shaw Air Force Base

MEDALS, AWARDS, AND CIVILIAN HIGHLIGHTS
Category Achievement / Role Organization
Military Award Air Force Longevity Service Award United States Air Force
Military Award National Defense Service Medal United States Air Force
Military Award Air Force Outstanding Unit Award United States Air Force
Civilian Career Director, Trading Floor Support / Ops Manager New York Stock Exchange (1965-1968)
Civilian Career Director, Systems Assurance & Comm Support Securities Industry Automation Corp (1973)