by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
You can take the man out of the Navy, but you can’t take the Navy out of the man.
That’s probably one of the concepts that led Mayor John Peyton to select retired U.S. Navy Capt. Bob Buehn to assume command of the City’s Military Affairs, Veterans and Disabled Services Division 18 months ago.
After graduating from the University of Florida in 1973, Buehn joined the Navy and was commissioned as an ensign in 1978. What followed was a 30-year career as a jet pilot, squadron commander, commanding officer and chief of staff that took Buehn to duty stations from the Pacific to the Middle East.
He spent about half of his career stationed at Cecil Field and Jacksonville Naval Air Stations and Mayport Naval Station. When he retired in 2008, he and his wife, Debi, settled in Clay County.
Buehn discovered fishing and writing for outdoor publications (his degree from UF is in journalism) wasn’t enough to keep him occupied. Then he got the call from Peyton and began his second career.
Buehn felt at home the day he arrived, since most of the 19 people who work in the division are also military veterans.
What has most surprised Buehn since he took the job is how vast the veterans population is in Jacksonville.
“There are more than 200,000 veterans living in Jacksonville. That’s about 20 percent of the population,” he said. “There are 18,000 military retirees in Duval County who receive $411 million each year in benefits. Another $157 million is paid each year in widow’s and disability benefits. That money stays in the community and it’s steady income as long as the federal government is in business. You can’t find an employer like that.”
One of the programs Buehn wanted to initiate when he came aboard was a monthly electronic newsletter that could keep the public informed about what’s going on in the military community. A subscription is available at: http://militaryaffairsnewsletter.coj.net.
When Buehn set up his office at City Hall, he said, “This is as close to still having a uniform as I could get. I think I have found my dream job.”
He has also found that old habits are hard to break.
“I have to catch myself every once in awhile,” said Buehn. “Sometimes I call the mayor, ‘admiral.’”
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