Captain (Ret.) Jeffrey "Jeff" William Rogers

Captain (Retired) Jeffrey William Rogers, “Jeff,” passed away unexpectedly on Monday, September 3rd, 2024, in his home in Elkton, Maryland. Jeff was ardently curious, dedicated to service, and a loving husband. Jeff lived a life of service to his community and cared deeply about empowering anyone who was marginalized. While Jeff left us far too soon, he will be remembered by the impact of his service, his keen intelligence, and above all, his kindness.

Jeff was born on February 6th, 1987 in Long Beach, California to Mary and David Rogers. Growing up in California, Jeff remained a dedicated Angels, LA Kings, Beach Boys and In-N-Out fan his whole life. There he developed his passion for aviation, joining Civil Air Patrol (CAP) where he bonded with his best friend, Kevin Holbrook. Jeff also developed an appreciation for theater arts, serving both on stage and behind the scenes in local theaters, Disneyland and Medieval Times. He began his military service in the California State Defense Force as a Public Affairs specialist. Jeff earned a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership from Biola University in 2011 and then commissioned into the U.S. Army in 2012.

While stationed in Colorado, Jeff deployed to Afghanistan as a platoon leader; he considered bringing all his troops home his proudest accomplishment. Later while assigned to Army Space and Missile Command, he earned the Space Enabler badge, fondly referred to as the “Space Shuttle Door Gunner” qualification. Jeff met his wife, Noella, in Colorado bonding over the outdoors, the arts, the army and an enduring patience for her puns. They were married on June 27th, 2015.

Shortly thereafter, an unexpected chapter of Jeff’s life began when he was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease related to service in Afghanistan, which resulted in his medical retirement from the army. While this transition was unwelcome, Jeff met the challenge with determination and grace, continuing to support Noella while she served on active duty. Together they moved to Georgia, Colorado again, and Maryland. Jeff supported Noella despite moves and deployments and sought opportunities to serve his community wherever he was.

Jeff’s life was all about service. He always stepped up during a crisis, including coordinating medical logistics for the Navajo nation during COVID and assisting in the evacuation of hundreds of Afghan refugees to safe havens. Jeff contributed to many service groups such as the American Legion, Veterans in Media and Entertainment, the Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus, the Order of the Eagle of Georgia, Free Masonry and Civil Air Patrol. Jeff returned to government service in the Maryland State Defense Force and Department of IT, working on improving cyber security for critical infrastructure.

Jeff still found time to pursue his passions. He returned to acting, appearing in multiple plays, TV shows and film festivals. Jeff was a brilliant and motivated student, earning two master’s degrees, an MA Organization Leadership and an MS in Space Studies! He earned his private pilot’s license, relishing the chance to fly friends and family. Jeff also competed in historical fencing, enjoyed experimenting in 3-D printing, and taught himself computer coding to build a smart house system. He was genuinely a modern-day Renaissance man.

Jeff loved spending time with his family, playing with his dog, and discussing all things space and aviation. Jeff is survived by his loving wife Noella; parents David and Mary; brother Aaron, sister-in-law Kaylee, and nephew Noah. Jeff is deeply missed by so many people for his kindness, creativity and determination.

Memorial contributions may be made in Jeff's memory to the Veterans in Media and Entertainment, an organization that Jeff was active in, by visiting https://vmeconnect.org/memorial