Colonel Dugard entered the U.S. Air Force as a commissioned second lieutenant, graduating from Loyola University, Los Angeles, graduating from pilot training and going into the Strategic Air Command as a B-47 pilot, rising to the rank of Major and selected to fly the supersonic B-58 . He was an instructor pilot and crew training instructor for incoming pilots. He served a tour at SAC Headquarters and was promoted to Lieutenant colonel. He then was selected to be a squadron commander of a B-52 unit and took command of his squadron in Guam and participated in the Eleven Day War, flying combat missions in Vietnam, both north and south. Promoted to Colonel and progressed through Wing positions until becoming the commander of the 307th Strategic Wing in U-Tapao Thailand, the last command of the Vietnam conflict. He subsequently was the commander of two other SAC wings in the CONUS and became the Deputy Commander for Operations of 15th Air Force, having control of all operations of SAC resources in the western half of the United States, including Hawaii and Alaska. He retired from the Air Force and became a high school administrator, coach, and teacher. Now retired.