LTC Jack Rubley, USA, Ret

LTC Jack Rubley, USA, Ret., was born on September 19, 1926 in Nauvoo, Alabama and passed away September 23, 2012 in Mineola, Florida after a long illness. He was surrounded by several of his family members and friends. Mr. Rubley entered the United States Army from Jasper, Alabama as a draftee private and served in Europe as a platoon sergeant. He received a direct commission as an officer in 1950 and served as an Infantry officer and later as a Signal Corp officer in Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Thailand and a number of assignments in the United States. He retired from military service, achieving the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, in 1970. During his military career, he was one of the project engineers for the Army's original long lines microwave system built throughout Japan and Korea. He commanded the large base support organization in the Army's combat strike force and was Chief of the Defense Communications Agency in Thailand, directly supporting operations in Vietnam. He also served as the Chief of the Army's automated data research and development organization charged with planning the automation of the US field Army. Most notable of his military assignments was at the White House as the Director of Communications during the administrations of Presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy and Johnson. In this capacity he was responsible for planning and implementing all Chief Executive and Command and Control Communications for the President, the Vice President, the White House Staff and the protective communications for the Secret Service both in the United States and throughout the world when the President traveled. He was awarded eleven decorations and citations consisting of two Legions of Merit and nine other Presidential, Department of Defense, Department of Army, Federal Communications Commission and United States Foreign Service decorations. Upon retirement from the military he was employed by The International Telephone and Telegraph Corporation (ITT) as Special Assistant to the Executive Vice President for US Government Requirements. He was concurrently the General Manger for all US communications services provided by ITT to the Department of Defense, the Department of State and other US Government departments. He was recruited by the United States Information Agency, a foreign affairs organization and was commissioned as an officer in the United States Foreign Service. He held the rank of Counselor, the third highest rank in the Career Foreign Service, and retired from the Foreign Service after serving 21 years. Mr. Rubley was married to Bernice Johnson formerly of Parrish, Alabama for 52 years. They were the parents of five children and grandparents of nine grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. Mrs. Rubley passed away August 1, 2000. A graveside service will be conducted 11:00 a.m. December 31, 2012 at Arlington National Cemetery.

Tributes

LTC Jack Rubley, USA, Ret

September 19, 1926 - September 23, 2012