Paul Douglas Humphries

Paul Douglas “Doug” Humphries died in Waynesboro, Virginia, on 13 July, 2023. He was born 21 October, 1956 to John J. Humphries and Pauline W. Humphries in El Paso, Texas. When he was 4, his family moved to West Covina, California, where he spent his childhood.

After graduating from West Covina High School in 1974 and the University of California, Los Angeles in 1978, Doug entered the Army through the ROTC program into combat arms—Armor—and completed a three-year tour in Germany, 1979-1982. He left active duty in 1982 to pursue his MA in History at UCLA, graduating in one year.

In 1983, he moved across the country to woo and marry his wife, Carol Dade Wedemeyer. They would eventually settle down in Vienna, Virginia where they raised three daughters: Dade, Coady, and Charlotte.

Doug had a successful 30-year career with the Central Intelligence Agency where he served mainly in analysis and analytic management positions with regional focus on the Middle East, South Asia, and the Balkans as well as functional specialties in military and security affairs. He also served tours in the Directorate of Operations, the Office of Policy Support, and the Counterterrorism Center, as well as external rotations to the Departments of State and Defense (including earning an MS in National Security Strategy from the National War College in 2012), the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. In 2015, he retired and completed his Doctorate of Liberal Studies in Interdisciplinary Humanities and International Affairs from Georgetown University.

Doug taught courses and guest lectured on international affairs, national security, intelligence, and military history at the National Defense University, Columbia University, and American University as well as, in retirement, VMI, Southern Virginia University, and Washington & Lee University. In addition, he retired as a Colonel with 30 years combined active and reserve duty with the US Army, serving mainly as an Infantry officer with joint special operations elements, including in overseas tours and war zone deployments.

Three months before his retirement, Doug was diagnosed with Stage IV kidney cancer, metastasized to the bones. However, he and Carol proceeded to move to Rockbridge Baths, Virginia, outside of Lexington where they built their dream house on the Maury River. Despite his diagnosis, he was able to visit Scotland, travel domestically, and teach at local schools throughout this time. Doug was blessed with a happy family life, raising three wonderful young women with Carol. Otis (Staffordshire Bull Terrier), a beloved family pet and brother to his adoring sisters, helped raise them as well.

Doug is survived by his wife of 39 years, Carol, daughters Dade (Pittsburgh), Coady (Glendale), and Charlotte (Richmond) as well as his sister Virginia Biacsi (LaVerne) and brother John Thaddeus (Fredericksburg).

Inurnment at Arlington National Cemetery will be at a date and time to be determined