John J. Clune
Encyclopedia
Colonel John J. Clune was the long-time Director of Athletics at the United States Air Force Academy
. The Clune Arena
at the Academy is named in his memory.
A native of Jersey City, New Jersey
, Clune graduated from St. Peter's High School where he earned all-state honors in basketball. He was a 1954 graduate of the United States Naval Academy
, where he earned All-American honors in basketball
, and held scoring records that lasted for 30 years. He earned a master's degree in electrical engineering from the University of Southern California
, completed the Armed Forces Staff College in 1959 and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces
in 1972.
His initial assignments were in missile operations, missile maintenance and administration. He served as an Air Officer Commanding
at the Air Force Academy from 1965 to 1968. Prior to returning the Academy, he was Chief of the Electronics and Equipment Division, Air Force Logistics Command
and Chief of the Logistics Engineering Branch, Headquarters U.S. Air Force.
During his tenure as the Air Force Academy athletic director, he arranged for the Academy to become a member of the Western Athletic Conference
, the first service academy to join a conference. He was responsible for initiating a 10-sport intercollegiate program for women when the first class was admitted in 1976. Once joining the WAC, Col. Clune served on the Compliance Committee, Finance Committee and the Extra Events Committee. Clune served as president of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics
and as a member of the NCAA's Postseason Football Committee. He is the former Chairman of the Board of Directors of the College Football Association
and served as chair of the NCAA Voting Committee.
He was also instrumental in working with Colorado Springs civic leaders in bringing the United States Olympic Training Center
, Olympic House and two Olympic Sports Festivals to Colorado Springs. He served as the president of the Air Force Academy Athletic Association and was one of the 10 board members designated by Congress to serve on the Academy Board, which is the governing body of the Air Force Academy. While in the military, Clune was rated as a senior missileman. Among his military decorations the Legion of Merit, two Meritorious Service Medals and the Air Force Commendation Medal.
Colonel Clune died of cancer in 1992 after serving 16 years as the director of athletics at Air Force.
United States Air Force Academy
The United States Air Force Academy is an accredited college for the undergraduate education of officer candidates for the United States Air Force. Its campus is located immediately north of Colorado Springs in El Paso County, Colorado, United States...
. The Clune Arena
Clune Arena
Clune Arena is a part of the Cadet Fieldhouse, a multi-purpose sports complex at the United States Air Force Academy. The fieldhouse complex houses track, hockey, and basketball. "Clune Arena" is the Men's and Women's Basketball arena. It was named after long-time USAFA Director of Athletics,...
at the Academy is named in his memory.
A native of Jersey City, New Jersey
Jersey City, New Jersey
Jersey City is the seat of Hudson County, New Jersey, United States.Part of the New York metropolitan area, Jersey City lies between the Hudson River and Upper New York Bay across from Lower Manhattan and the Hackensack River and Newark Bay...
, Clune graduated from St. Peter's High School where he earned all-state honors in basketball. He was a 1954 graduate of the United States Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
, where he earned All-American honors in basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, and held scoring records that lasted for 30 years. He earned a master's degree in electrical engineering from the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
, completed the Armed Forces Staff College in 1959 and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces
Industrial College of the Armed Forces
The Industrial College of the Armed Forces is a U.S. military educational institution tasked with preparing military officers and civilian government officials for leadership and executive positions in the field of national security...
in 1972.
His initial assignments were in missile operations, missile maintenance and administration. He served as an Air Officer Commanding
Air Officer Commanding
Air Officer Commanding is a title given in the air forces of Commonwealth nations to an air officer who holds a command appointment. Thus, an air vice marshal might be the AOC 38 Group...
at the Air Force Academy from 1965 to 1968. Prior to returning the Academy, he was Chief of the Electronics and Equipment Division, Air Force Logistics Command
Air Force Logistics Command
Air Force Logistics Command was a United States Air Force command. Its headquarters was located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio...
and Chief of the Logistics Engineering Branch, Headquarters U.S. Air Force.
During his tenure as the Air Force Academy athletic director, he arranged for the Academy to become a member of the Western Athletic Conference
Western Athletic Conference
The Western Athletic Conference is an American collegiate athletic conference, which was formed on July 27, 1962, making it the sixth oldest of the 11 college athletic conferences currently participating in the NCAA's Division I FBS...
, the first service academy to join a conference. He was responsible for initiating a 10-sport intercollegiate program for women when the first class was admitted in 1976. Once joining the WAC, Col. Clune served on the Compliance Committee, Finance Committee and the Extra Events Committee. Clune served as president of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics
National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics
The National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics is a professional organization for college and university athletic directors in the United States. NACDA boasts a membership of more than 6,100 individuals and more than 1,600 institutions throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico...
and as a member of the NCAA's Postseason Football Committee. He is the former Chairman of the Board of Directors of the College Football Association
College Football Association
The College Football Association is the name of a now-defunct body through which American college football schools negotiated TV contracts with networks. The CFA was an alliance of 64 schools from the major conferences and selected independents....
and served as chair of the NCAA Voting Committee.
He was also instrumental in working with Colorado Springs civic leaders in bringing the United States Olympic Training Center
United States Olympic Training Center
The United States Olympic Training Centers are three campuses created by the United States Olympic Committee as training facilities for its Olympic and Paralympic athletes. They are located in Colorado Springs, Colorado; Lake Placid, New York; and Chula Vista, California. There is a U.S. Olympic...
, Olympic House and two Olympic Sports Festivals to Colorado Springs. He served as the president of the Air Force Academy Athletic Association and was one of the 10 board members designated by Congress to serve on the Academy Board, which is the governing body of the Air Force Academy. While in the military, Clune was rated as a senior missileman. Among his military decorations the Legion of Merit, two Meritorious Service Medals and the Air Force Commendation Medal.
Colonel Clune died of cancer in 1992 after serving 16 years as the director of athletics at Air Force.