Growing up in a modest one-bedroom home beneath the Westinghouse Bridge in East Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, John Muskovac learned early on the value of family and hard work. He shared the home with his parents, three brothers, and two sisters, making for a close-knit household where everyone learned to get along.
As a youngster, John loved sports and seemed to excel at just about every game he played. But beyond athletics, he had another passion, history. Fascinated by world events and distant places, he dreamed of traveling beyond his Pennsylvania hometown and seeing the world for himself.
After graduating from Turtle Creek High School at just 17 years old, John set his sights on the U.S. Navy. No one had to persuade him; he had already made up his mind. The Navy, he figured, would be his ticket to adventure and to travel the world.
What he didn’t realize then was that this decision would lead to a remarkable 33-year career spanning the globe!
Along the way, John embraced every challenge the Navy offered. He attended Officer Candidate School, Submarine School, the University of Maryland, Howard County programs, and U.S. Navy Communications Engineering training. While submarine duty offered extra pay, it was the challenge and honor to serve in the submarine service that appealed to him.
Life aboard a submarine isn’t for everyone. Long deployments, confined spaces, and prolonged isolation demand a strong mental toughness. Throughout his career, John earned praise not only for his technical expertise but also for his leadership. Fitness reports described him as a “confident officer with a quiet demeanor and businesslike attitude” who developed exceptional rapport with those around him. Another report noted that he made his points “firmly and convincingly.”
John’s Navy career took him around the world. He served at Naval Communication Stations in Puerto Rico and completed three tours in Italy, including assignments in Naples and Gaeta, homeport of the U.S. Sixth Fleet flagship.
His distinguished service included command of two heavily armed fast-attack submarines, the USS Medregal (SS-480) and USS Cutlass (SS-478). He also held key communications and operational assignments supporting naval forces across the Atlantic, Pacific, Mediterranean, and beyond.
Among his many responsibilities, John managed communications networks that linked military assets in Puerto Rico, San Diego, Iceland, Key West, and Ireland, helping establish critical NATO communications systems. Later, while assigned to the Commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet in Hawaii, he coordinated communications support stretching from Hawaii and Guam to the Indian Ocean.
During the early 1980s, he served as Chief of Staff for Command, Control, and Communications for the Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean. In that role, he helped modernize secure communications among U.S. ships, submarines, and aircraft operating throughout the region. His duties took him to locations including Lebanon, Gibraltar, and what was then Yugoslavia. He also served during the tense years surrounding the Iranian Hostage Crisis, when naval operations in the region expanded significantly.
Of all the experiences he encountered while “seeing the world,” one stands out above the rest: the day his submarine struck the ocean floor. Looking back, John considers himself fortunate to have survived the incident.
Despite the challenges and risks, John remains immensely proud of his military service. Even today, after retirement, hearing the National Anthem still brings out strong emotions. As he puts it, he was honored to serve in what he considers the finest military in the world.
After receiving orders for a Naval Communications Unit assignment in London, John decided it was time for a new chapter. He retired from the Navy at age 50 and began a second career as a Project Manager with the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory.
In 2003, John and his wife, Cathy, discovered Herons Glen and knew immediately they had found their new home. While golf was once his game of choice, these days you’ll often find him on the bocce courts or tackling a challenging 1,000-piece puzzle.
Anyone who knows John knows his quick wit, easygoing nature, and genuine compassion for others. He enjoys meeting people, sharing stories, and staying active in the community he and Cathy have come to love.
Herons Glen is fortunate to have John among its residents. We thank him for his dedicated service to our country and for being such a valued neighbor and friend. A special thank-you also goes to Cathy for helping share the story of John’s extraordinary journey.
