 During World War II, Duckett served as a Chemical Corps commander and officer on active duty in the Army in the European theater of operations.During his tenure at The Citadel, Duckett served as Dean of Admissions, Administrative Dean, the first Citadel Vice President and from 1970 to 1974 the President of the Military College of South Carolina.He was the first President of The Citadel to hold an earned doctorate.