John entered the Army in World War II and served in Europe. Subsequently he graduated from the U.S. Military Academy with a degree in engineering and as a president of his senior class. His career as an Army officer included overseas service in Vietnam, Korea, and Europe. He retired from the Army in 1968, having received the Legion of Merit and the Bronze Star in recognition of his distinguished military service.

He then began a new career extending over more than ten years in private industry as a executive, first with Planning Research Corporation and then with BDM Corporation.

While in the private sector he received a doctorate in public administration from American University. He had previously earned a degree in government and politics a from the University of Maryland while serving as an Army officer. In 1981 John joined the faculty of the Kogod College of Business Administration at American University where he was director of the Procurement Management program. He retired from the university in 1994.

In 1984 John developed the concept of a non-partisan group of former government procurement officials dedicated to improving the Federal procurement process. John’s vision and leadership resulted in the formation of the Procurement Round Table. John played a key role in the formative years of the Round Table and he continued to serve as a director for almost twenty years.