Colonel Dean A. Hess, Jr (Ret) USAF

Dean Hess has dedicated his life to his passion of flying. Born in Lancaster, PA to Janet and Dean Hess of New Providence just prior to World War II, Dean grew up in Collegeville, PA and won a football scholarship to the USAF Academy in 1959. Following graduation, Dean attended pilot training at Reese AFB, TX and was later assigned to Vance AFB, OK as an Instructor Pilot in T-37 and a Flight Examiner in T-41 aircraft. He continued his instructing duties by helping to open a new Pilot Training base at Randolph AFB, TX. There he helped set up a T-41 contracted flight school at Stinson Field in San Antonio. Suzanne and Dean were married in Harrisburg in 1967. Shortly afterward, Dean served in Vietnam as a forward air controller flying the O2A with the 2nd Brigade of the Air Mobile 101st Airborne (AB) Division. He also served as Twenty Four Corps ALO at Hue Phubi and finished his tour as a flight examiner in the 504th TASG. He returned to the Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell AFB where he completed a master's degree. Following graduation, he was assigned to McGuire AFB as a C-141 squadron operations officer, Chief of Wing Training, and commander of the 438th Transportation Squadron. In 1975, he was assigned to Scott AFB at Military Airlift Command Headquarters as an Airlift Director and Branch Chief of the Airlift Management Division. After leaving Scott AFB, IL he served on the Headquarters USAF Air Staff in Operations at the Pentagon in the Airlift Division. Following his promotion to Colonel, he was assigned as a Director of Operations representative on Air Staff corporate committees and assumed the job of Assistant Director for Operations, Initiatives, and Joint Matters. He moved to Maxwell AFB as the Class President of the Air War College Class of 1984. After a short tour at McCord AFB he was sent to Portugal as the Chief of Staff, US Forces Azores and Wing Vice Commander. Following this overseas tour, he returned to the Air Staff in the Pentagon where he retired after earning a second master's degree in Systems Management from the University of Southern California. His military decorations include the Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star, the Air Medal with eight oak leaf clusters. Dean retired as a Command Pilot with over 4000 hours in (T-37, O-2, T-39, & C-141A & B models) and with over 500 hours of combat time in Vietnam.