Robert Eric Dean

Captain Dean was born at Camp Atterbury, Indiana on 28 November 1951 to Parthenia Eileen Dean, while his father, an Army 2nd LT, served in the Korean War 1950-1952 as a Mortar Platoon Officer, and later in Viet Nam as an advisor to MACVSOG, and Command Sergeant Major 6th Army, 6th Army Presidio, San Francisco, CA.

He traveled extensively in Europe as a military dependent at Fort Benning, Georgia; Nürnberg and Frankfort, Germany; Shape Headquarters, Paris, France; Fort Huachuca, Arizona and finally Presidio San Francisco.

Following graduation from California State University in 1974, he was commissioned an Ensign as a Naval Aviation Officer at Pensacola, Florida in 1975. Following the Paris Peace Accords, he was honorably discharged from Aviation Officer School as part of a Reduction in Force by President Nixon following the Peace Treaty of Paris. After a hiatus while working at Beech Aerospace in Wichita, Kansas and as an electronic installer and metal-smith at the Boeing Military Industrial Complex, Wichita, Kansas, he reenlisted in the Naval Service as an Naval Aviation Maintenance Duty Officer (AMDO), graduating in 1980.

He reported to the aircraft carrier USS NIMITZ CVN-68, and served as the Power Plants and Airframes Division Officer. He was transferred to VA-128 the A6-E Training Squadron, Whidbey Island, WA. He later served on USS MIDWAY forward deployed as MMCO while attached to EA-6B VAQ-136.

He reported to COMNAVAIRLANT, Norfolk in 1989 and was eventually assigned to USS Theodore Roosevelt as assistant Maintenance Officer. He was subsequently assigned to Naval Sea Systems Command as Deputy Naval Air Systems Command coordinator for aircraft carriers. He attended the Naval War College, Newport Rhode Island and graduated with distinction. He was reassigned to USS CARL VINSON as AIMD Officer out of Alameda, CA. 1994-1995 and participated in Victory Commemoration's over Japan in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Following this he reported to Commander, Naval Air Systems Command as Assistant Program Manager, Ship/Aviation Systems Integration Officer, before reporting to Commander Naval as Forces Europe, London, where he was assigned to the Chief of Naval Operations, Total Force Requirements Division as Training and Education Branch Head.

After leaving the Navy in October 2008 he took a position at Eagle Systems, Inc. where he served as Technical Director, NAVAIR Acquisition and Logistics. Following this he worked for Pioneering Decisions Engineering Solutions, Inc, as Technical Director.

He has received the following awards: Legion of Merit Medal; Meritorious Service Medal (4 awards); Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (2); Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal: National Defense Service Medal (2); and various service medals and campaign ribbons, as well as numerous letters of commendation, appreciation and recognition.

He is survived by his wife of 46 adventurous years with Carolyn French-Dean, and their two sons Matthew and Jason Dean. 6 grandchildren: Christopher, Erica, Madeline, Nicholas, Chryspin and Kyon, 2 greatgrandchildren Nylon and Lilly and his two little guys Horatia (Westie) and Nelson (Shitzpoo).