Colonel Dean Denter is a native of Chester, Montana and initially enlisted in the Montana Army National Guard as a Switching Systems operator in 1991. He was commissioned as an Infantry Officer through ROTC as a Distinguished Military Graduate with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education in December 1994 from Montana State University - Bozeman.
Among his early assignments, Colonel Denter served as a Rifle Platoon Leader where he deployed to Haiti and then as a Company Executive Officer in 1st Battalion 23rd Infantry Regiment. After completion of the Signal Officer Transition Course Colonel Denter then went on to be a Platoon Leader in 29th Signal Battalion at Fort Lewis. As a Captain, he served as the Battalion S6 for 1st Battalion 43rd Air Defense Artillery (PATRIOT) at Suwon Air Base, Korea; Commander 507th Signal Company, Fort Wainwright, Alaska; Stryker Brigade Combat Team Transformation Officer for the US Army Alaska G7; and as the Battalion S4 for the 59th Signal Battalion at Fort Richardson, Alaska. As a Major he was then assigned to Fort Drum, New York to serve as the Brigade S6 for 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division where he deployed to Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. After redeploying, he moved back to Fort Richardson where he served as the Garrison Operation Officer; US Army Alaska G6 Current Operations Officer and Deputy G6; and finally the Battalion S3 and then Executive Officer for 59th Signal Battalion.
After completion of Intermediate Level Education at the Command and General Staff College, Colonel Denter was assigned as a Deputy Team Chief of a Security Force Assistance Team with 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division. After a seven month train up at Joint Base Lewis McCord, Washington he then deployed to Operation ENDURING FREEDOM where he served as the Team Chief of Security-Transition Team 21 which partnered with a Department of State District Support Team focused on improving the effectiveness and capability of governance and development efforts within the Municipality of Kandahar. Colonel Denter commanded the 59th Signal Battalion from May 2013 to June 2015 where in addition to supporting signal operations at three separate installations he was dual hatted as the US Army Alaska G6. After completion of command Colonel Denter served as the Deputy Brigade Commander for 1st Signal Brigade that enables Joint and operational networks throughout the Korean Area of Operations. Colonel Denter then moved back to Alaska in August 2016 where he was assigned as the Deputy J6, Alaska NORAD Region & Alaska Command, at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. Colonel Denter’s last assignment was attending the senior service college, graduating with a Master degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from Naval War College, Newport Rhode Island in June 2019 where he was also enrolled in the Arctic Scholars program.
Colonel Denter's additional military education includes the Infantry Officer Basic Course, Bradley Fighting Vehicle Commanders Course, Signal Officer Branch Qualification Course, Signal Captains Career Course, Combined Arms and Services Staff School, Cold Weather Orientation Course, Military Assistance Security Advisor Course, the Department of State Foreign Service Institute Provincial Reconstruction Team Course, and the Senior Service College.
His military decorations include the Bronze Star (1 OLC), Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (3 OLCs), Army Commendation Medal (7 OLCs), Army Achievement Medal (1 OLC), National Defense Service Medal with second device, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, the Overseas Service Ribbon with eighth device, NATO Medal, and the Parachutist Badge.