Army Pathfinders: First In, Last Out

Dean was raised by a career USAF fighter pilot and was subsequently schooled in the skills, attitude and professionalism of being a warrior. Dean visited many countries throughout the world and was formally schooled in the United States, Japan and Turkey. As a result of his firmly grounded education he pursued and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science, the University of Tampa, Florida; a Master of Science degree in Operations Management, the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas; and is completing his Doctorate of Philosophy in Organizational Performance and Change at Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado.

Dean entered the U.S. Army in 1968 as a private through the draft system (#411949179), and was commissioned a second lieutenant in January 1970. Dean held several assignments as a company grade and field grade officer. As a company grade officer Dean was a BCT Training Officer, Fort Ord, California; Pathfinder Section Leader and Pathfinder Detachment Commander, 101st Airborne Division, Vietnam; Pathfinder Leader, 101st Airborne Division, Commandant of the 101st Airborne Division Airborne School, Platoon Leader and XO of Alpha Company, 1/327th Infantry, Assistant Brigade S-1, 1st Brigade, 101st airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Kentucky; S-3 Air , Assistant S-3, Battalion Maintenance Officer, Bravo Company Commander, 1/36th Infantry, 3d Armor Division, Friedburg, Germany; Senior Advisor to the12th SFGA and advisor to 33d Infantry Brigade, Illinois National Guard, 5th Army, Chicago, Illinois.

As a field grade officer, he was the General Subjects Training Committee director, brigade S3 and XO, Fort Knox, Kentucky; Action officer, DESPER, Headquarters TRADOC and the Director, Plans, Security, Training and Mobilization for Headquarters TRADOC and Fort Monroe, Virginia. His final military assignment was as S3 and later J3 of the National Light Force Training Center—the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC)—Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas.

Dean’s post military life is filled with family, some work in corporate America and several years working within and for the academic community.

Dean proudly wears the Pathfinder Badge, Combat Infantry Badge, Master Parachute Badge, Ranger Tab and the South Vietnamese Airborne Badge.

Dean currently resides in Greeley, Colorado with his wife Cathey and their twins, Stephanie and Zach.

FILO