John Frederick Steppe (1914-1950) was born and raised in Woodridge, New Jersey. He received his B.S. degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Alabama Polytechnic Institute (Auburn University) in 1938. While attending the university, he served as a leader in the Auburn Aero Club, an Associate Editor and writer for the campus newspaper, a member of Phi Kappa Tau fraternity, and competed in Track and Cross Country field events. After graduation, Steppe worked as a flight instructor before being hired as an Engineering Draftsman by North American Aviation (NAA). He later became a Project Engineer for the P51 Mustang aircraft, a model referred to as "invaluable to the Allied victory" of WWII by the National WWII Museum. The P51 also served as the aircraft primarily used by the Tuskegee Airmen. After the war, Steppe served as Vice-President of Production for Globe Aircraft and as Assistant General Manager for Culver Aircraft Corporation before returning to work directly under Dutch Kindelberger as a Staff Field Representative for North American Aviation. In March of 1950, Steppe and six other North American Aviation Executives died tragically in a plane crash on a return trip from Washington D.C.