When Capt. Roger Dubé ’88 and Capt. Orlando Lorié ’96, both UCF College of Business alumni, met through the U.S. Navy Reserve, they instantly recognized something familiar in each other — a shared commitment to service, a steady sense of purpose and an enduring connection to the university that helped shape them.
Both also hail from military families. Dubés’ father served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, and Lorié’s father served in the U.S. Army National Guard.
Though they graduated nearly a decade apart, their stories run in parallel. Both found at UCF a foundation of curiosity and discipline that would carry them through decades of military service and civilian leadership. Both rose through the ranks of the U.S. Navy Reserve while balancing successful careers and family life. And both now point the spotlight away from themselves, emphasizing that the true heroes are those serving alongside them, including their fellow Reservists.
UCF alums Capt. Roger Dubé ’88 and Capt. Orlando Lorié ’96 are among the university’s highest-ranking alumni Reservists in the Navy Supply Corps.
Reservists are individuals who maintain their military skills while working in a civilian job and typically fulfill their military obligations with one weekend of duty per month and two weeks of annual training. However, it’s not uncommon for Reservists to serve beyond the minimum commitment, or to be deployed during times of conflict or in support of contingencies, either individually or as part of a military unit.
“Roger and I have always believed that what defines the Navy Reserve isn’t the rank or the ribbon — it’s the people,” says Lorié, who earned a bachelor’s in management from UCF. “They’re doctors, engineers, teachers, small business owners. They leave their families and jobs behind to answer the call, and they do it without expecting recognition.”
Dubé, who has served his country for nearly 30 years, shares that sentiment. He often describes his career, which included stints in corporate accounting, surgical product sales and real estate development, not as a series of personal achievements, but as a journey made possible by those who stood beside him. He drew on many of those experiences to help influence the modernization of Navy processes in supply logistics and deliverability.
“I’ve had the honor of serving with extraordinary men and women — people who embody quiet professionalism,” says Dubé, who earned a bachelor’s in accounting from UCF. “They’re the ones who make the Reserve what it is.”
“The story isn’t about us,” Lorié says. “It’s about every reservist who serves in silence, who misses birthdays and anniversaries, who stands ready even when no one’s watching. They’re the real heroes.”
For both alumni, UCF played a key role in developing that perspective.
Dubé recalls a university still in its early years of expansion, describing it as a place filled with possibility.
“UCF was young, growing fast and hungry to make a mark,” he says. “That energy inspired me. It taught me to be adaptable, to take initiative and to always look for a better way forward. These lessons translated directly to my Navy career.”
Lorié also remembers the drive and camaraderie that defined his time on campus.
“There was this sense that we were part of something bigger,” he says. “You could feel that UCF was on the rise, and that motivated me to aim higher and to think globally, not just locally.”
That forward-looking mindset carried both men through years of deployments, leadership roles and the complex balancing act of life in the Navy Reserve.
Lorié’s career has taken him around the world, from serving as a commanding officer deployed to Afghanistan to piloting jetliners for a U.S. legacy carrier in civilian life. Along the way, he’s remained passionate about mentorship, helping younger sailors and engineers find their footing in demanding fields.
“Mentorship is everything,” says Lorié. “When you’ve been given opportunities, you have a responsibility to help others succeed and to pass on what you’ve learned.”
Dubé echoes that approach. Whether serving abroad or at home, he has focused on leading with integrity and empathy — values he credits to his time at UCF and in the Navy Reserve.
“Leadership isn’t about authority,” he says. “It’s about listening, setting an example and never asking someone to do something you wouldn’t do yourself.”
The two often joke that their friendship is built on a combination of shared experiences and good-natured teasing. But beneath the humor lies deep respect, not only for each other but also for the mission that connects them.
“Roger’s humility and professionalism are what make him such a strong leader,” Lorié says. “He never looks for credit. He just gets the job done and takes care of his people.”
The admiration runs both ways. Dubé calls Lorié “the kind of leader you want in your corner — smart, capable and compassionate.”
Today, both men remain connected to UCF, following the university’s continued rise as a powerhouse in innovation and service. They see parallels between UCF’s trajectory and the values of the military — resilience, adaptability and community.
“UCF and the Navy Reserve both represent the same idea,” Dubé says. “They’re about building people up, giving them the tools to make a difference and trusting them to lead.”
“The story isn’t about us,” Lorié says. “It’s about every reservist who performs their duty quietly and, at times, at great personal cost — missing birthdays, anniversaries, sometimes even the birth of their child — who stands ready to stand the watch at a moment’s notice and go into harm’s way without hesitation. They’re the real heroes.”
Their friendship and their service reflect something bigger about UCF itself. As Knights who’ve built their lives around leadership and giving back, they represent the thousands of alumni around the world who serve in ways both seen and unseen. Together, they carry forward a legacy of resilience, compassion and courage that defines the UCF community.
“Once a Knight, always a Knight,” Dubé says. “That sense of belonging doesn’t end when you graduate. It stays with you — wherever you serve, wherever you lead and wherever life takes you.”
