Douglas Erroll Wedel

Douglas Erroll Wedel, age 62, of Fairborn, Ohio, passed away in his home, on August 2, 2022.

Preceded in death by his parents, Doug is survived by his son, Tyler; the mother of his son, Jennifer Wedel; brother, Trace (Sherry) Wedel of Spokane, WA; sister, Cami (Jill) Trujillo Wedel of Albuquerque, NM; 2 nephews, 2 nieces, 8 grand nephews, 1 grandniece, beloved aunt, Sandra Atkinson; several cousins and countless friends.

Doug was born in Cheyenne, Wyoming, to E. Erroll and Janna (Walton) Wedel. Doug moved with his family to reside in Missouri and Connecticut.  In 1976, the family moved to Tehran, Iran, where Doug would attend and graduate from TAS (Tehran American School).

Soon after, Doug enlisted in the United States Air Force and made it his career. He was stationed in Rome, NY; Tucson, AZ; England; Kuwait; South Korea; and finally, Dayton, Ohio.  He actively served during Desert Storm as an Intelligence Analyst on C-130’s.  He conducted successful airborne intelligence missions around the globe and supported NATO forces during the Bosnian War.  Doug had an illustrious military career and was awarded several medals for his military achievements.  Serving for over 20 years, he retired at the rank of Master Sergeant.

Doug achieved several academic degrees during his military service and in the years following his retirement. He held four Bachelor of Science degrees; two Bachelor’s degrees; an MBA as well as a Master’s in Computer Science. Most recently, Doug accomplished Doctorate studies in Cybersecurity and Computer Science at Colorado Technical University.

Doug’s military experience and depth of knowledge in the area of cybersecurity lead him to a long and successful career, culminating in his position as a senior cybersecurity expert for the U.S. Department of Defense, Dayton Ohio.

Like his father before him, who served his country for 45 years as a defense contractor, Doug spent his entire adult life in service to our great country. A firm believer in Christ, Doug served and was a member of several churches throughout his lifetime. He lived the motto, “God, Family, Country.”

Doug was also an incredible and innovative chef, appearing in a Food Channel episode of, “Calling All Cooks,” in 2000. One of his greatest pleasures was making amazing meals and his famous hot sauce to share with others.

Doug was known for his breadth of knowledge, corny jokes, and gregarious personality.  He was a walking, talking encyclopedia of information and could remember and recite every joke he ever heard, often with embellishments to make them better. He truly was the life of the party.

Those who knew him fondly remember him for his great friendship, support, and assistance to others, at work and at home, helping many to achieve their personal and professional goals. His gracious character extended to everyone who knew him.

If you asked Doug what his proudest achievement in life was, he would say that he was blessed and privileged to have such an amazing son and best friend, Tyler Wedel.

Godspeed, Douglas!