Doug died December 31, 2021, at his home in Salmon, Idaho. He was born in Omak, Washington, where he grew up and graduated from Omak H.S. and starred in baseball, basketball, and football. He received his bachelor's in Recreation and Park Administration from Eastern Washington University and served in two years in the Army. Doug worked summers with Washington State and Federal fire crews before starting his smokejumping career at Redmond in 1973. He jumped at Redmond 1973-77, 81-89 and at NCSB 1978-80, 1990-00. In 1990 Doug moved to Winthrop where he served as Base Manager 1990-00. After 29 years as a smokejumper, he retired in 2009 with 324 career jumps.

Doug continued working fire as an Air Tactical Group Supervisor in the Bitterroot Valley in Montana. He also started Flyboy Angler Business selling fly fishing flies over the Northwest and Canada. Doug was an NSA Life Member and served as NSA President 2004-08.