Duane Jackson

Duane Jackson served in the United States Navy aboard the USS Ranger aircraft carrier in the Pacific during the Vietnam War. He achieved the rank of E3, Airman.

Following his service, Mr. Jackson pursued his education and earned a Bachelor’s degree in City Planning, in 1976, from Boston University and continued this education with post graduate work in Washington, D.C. Prior to establishing his own business, he worked with the NYC Department of Housing and Preservation, the NYC Board of Education (Division of School Buildings), and a private engineering firm.

In May 2010, Mr. Jackson made national headlines when he thwarted a potential terrorist attack in Times Square. While managing his own street vendor business, Mr. Jackson, as New Yorkers are asked to do, saw something, then said something. Upon witnessing smoke emanating from an illegally parked, empty SUV, Mr. Jackson and a colleague vendor quickly alerted the NYPD. Upon investigation, City authorities found that the car had a propane-and-gasoline bomb inside, which did not explode. The perpetrator of this crime was soon arrested, confessed, and sentenced to life in prison. When asked about his efforts and quick actions, Mr. Jackson humbly replied, “Everybody has a responsibility to keep the City safe…I just happened to be in the right place at the right time, and I am happy that no one was injured in this attempted attack on our City."

In full recognition for his heroism that day, Mr. Jackson received a call from President Obama who, on behalf of the country, thanked Mr. Jackson for his continued service to the City and our Nation.

Mr. Jackson has remained active in his community and has served on the Board of Trustees for the Village of Buchanan for multiple terms. He also served as co-president of the Buchanan Historical Society, and as a member of the Westchester County Historical Society. He has taken on the role of Historian, as he details the stories of America’s first African American soldiers through a pictorial program on the 1st Rhode Island Regiment — a pioneering military unit consisting of the first African American soldiers to fight as free men in the Revolutionary War. The Regiment played a vital and heroic role in the brief but brutal battle at the Pines Bridge crossing of the Croton River in 1781.

He continues to focus and work on behalf of the veteran community and is a member of American Legion Post 1030 in Verplanck, Vietnam Veterans Chapter 49 in Westchester, and the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 137 in Westchester and Putnam counties. He is past president of the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 817 of Buchanan.

Mr. Jackson and his wife reside in Westchester County and are the proud parents of their two children.