Gus Spier was born and grew up in Poughkeepsie, NY. After graduating from Poughkeepsie High School, and attended college in Yeshiva University and later, State University College at Oneonta, NY. 

In 1975, he enlisted in the US Air Force as an Airborne Crypto-Linguist (A203X0). During his Air Force career, he was stationed at Hellenikon Air Base for seven and a half years. He took a follow-on assignment to Howard Air Force Base in the Republic of Panama. The remainder of his career was in San Antonio, TX. 

During his time in the service, Gus deployed multiple times to Saudi Arabia and participated in operations ELF ONE, supporting USAF AWACS missions during the Iran-Iraq War; Operation Desert Shield, Operation Desert Storm, and Operation Southern Watch. Gus retired in 1995, having earned the Meritorious Service medal with one device, the Air Medal with 21 devices, the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Air Force Achievement Medal, the Southwest Asia Service Medal with 1 device, the National Defense Service Medal, and the Combat Readiness Medal. 

Upon retirement he resettled in Northern Virginia and continues to work supporting the Department of Defense as a career database engineer. Gus lives in Middleburg, VA with his wife, Madelin.