Jack Eugene Buffington

Rear Admiral Jack Buffington grew up in Westville Oklahoma, the son of cattle ranchers. He played football and graduated in civil engineering from the University of Arkansas and earned a master’s degree from Georgia Tech University.

Rear Admiral Jack Buffington enlisted in the U.S. Navy in July 1961 and retired as Chief of the Naval Civil Engineer Corps and Commander of the Naval Facilities Engineering Command in September 1995. RADM Buffington had an extensive career with duty in shipyards, public works centers, Naval Stations and bases, seven years with Bureau of Medicine (BUMED) building hospitals, aide and other staff duties, assignment to Pentagon and many tours with SEABEES. It is his duty to the SEABEES of which he is particularly proud.

RADM Buffington’s first of six tours with SEABEES was with naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMBCB)-9. He served as Engineering Officer, in a Detachment to Kodiak, Alaska, Charlie Company Commander, and Officer in Charge of SEABEE Team 0906 in Vietnam. He then reported for duty in the SEABEE Division at the Bureau of Yards and Docks which later became Naval Facilities (NAVFAC). After duty in the Philippines, RADM Buffington was assigned to NMCB-4 as Executive Officer and action Operations Officer.

His next tour with the SEABEES was as Commanding Officer of NMCB-1. While he was with NMCB-1, the battalion won Best of Type and the Peltier Award as the top SEABEE Battalion in the Navy and led all Battalions in retention, winning the Commander in Chief, Atlantic Fleet Golden Anchor Award. During RADM Buffington’s various battalion tours he was instrumental in winning six Best of Type E’s and four Peltier awards. He made most of the ten deployments while serving with the battalions. RADM Buffington later had the good fortune of serving as Commander of both the Second Brigade (Atlantic Fleet SEABEES and the Third Brigade (Pacific Fleet SEABEES) during two other tours with the SEABEES.

RADM Buffington’s military decorations include: the Distinguished Service Medal with Gold Star; Legion of Merit with three Gold Stars; Meritorious Service Medal; Navy Commendation Medal with two Gold Stars; Navy Achievement Medal; Vietnam Medal of Merit Second Class; and various other personnel, campaign and service medals.

RADM Buffington taught Construction Management at the University of Arkansas, helped run a research center and served on various boards. Among the many professional and academic honors and awards received: four-time recipient of the Outstanding Service to Students Awards; received the American Society of Civil Engineers, Arkansas and Northwest Arkansas Professional Engineer of the Year Award; inducted into the University of Arkansas Engineering Hall of Fame, the Georgia Tech Academy of Distinguished Engineering Graduates and the Oklahoma and Arkansas Military Veterans Hall of Fame.

Even with all his professional activities, he still found time to be a very involved member of the Northwest Arkansas Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) Chapter and served as a fireman driving seven different fire trucks and a first responder for the Rocky Branch, Roger, Arkansas Volunteer Fire Department. He was also a private pilot and instructor. And enjoyed fishing on Beaver Lake with the Dirty Twenty Fishing Club.

RADM Buffington is a member of the Cherokee nation and received the Cherokee Warrior Medal of Patriotism Award. His Great Uncle was Chief Tom Buffington.

He is survived by his wife Robin, sister Cynthia, daughters Shawn and Kelly, sons-in-law Tom and Brian, four grandchildren Sarah, Matthew, Isabella and Brandon, grandson-in-law Chase, and great-grandson Zayne.

In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes donations to Navy Seabee Foundation or Rocky Branch Fire Department in Rogers AR.