Photo By Master Sgt. Peter Morrison | Diane Dunn, who lives in Newburgh, with her husband Jim and her son, Marcus, was...... read more read more
AUGUSTA, Maine - "Don't follow your dreams- lead them," was the advice written on a card she passed her youngest son at his graduation this June.
It's how Diane Dunn has lived her life. Conquering challenges and taking every opportunity afforded her to travel, to learn and to study. Twenty-six years after signing up for a ROTC course in college, Dunn, was promoted to the rank of colonel and is the first woman in the Maine Army National Guard to be a brigade commander, when she takes command of the 120th Regional Support Group later this summer.
The self proclaimed tomboy and mother of three fell in love with the physical challenges and leadership training of the military when she took a leadership course through the ROTC program at Houghton College. When she returned to Maine after being commissioned to lieutenant, she called Camp Keyes to find out how she could start the transition to the Maine Army National Guard.
Moving through the ranks, Dunn learned a lot about who she was, and what battles she had to fight to get where she wanted to be.
“As a young lieutenant I had to learn the basics and recognize the difference between the role of a senior noncommissioned officer and a junior officer. Then I had to learn how to supervise, lead and manage. ROTC focuses on the tactical level tasks, none of which you are able to do as a new lieutenant,
especially in the adjutant general branch.”
She said she spent those younger years learning the ropes, preparing for her next roles, and being mentored by her superiors. Along the way, she realized that she had become the mentor.
“My years as a captain were focused on digging into the regulations, learning to prepare for inspections and understanding more training management. As a young field grade officer, I spent time discovering the period of being a junior officer and being mentored, to becoming the mentor. There was never a well-defined line in the sand.”
Regardless of defining moments, Dunn’s story has been one of many successes. She credits the many leaders she has had throughout her career as the key to those moves. She said that she has tried to watch and listen to those she respects and learn from how they handle themselves in different situations.
Lt. Col. Blair Tinkham has worked with Dunn since 1998 as their career paths mirrored each other for a ten year period. He served as her training officer in the 286th Combat Sustainment Brigade, and then replaced her as the administrative officer, and then replaced her as the Assistant Professor of Military Science at the University of Maine at Orono. During the 286th’s deployment to Afghanistan in 2009, he served as her executive officer. He calls their relationship open honest, and rewarding, one where they can capitalize on each other’s strengths and compensate for each other’s weaknesses.
“I have seen her develop and evolve as a leader in every position she has held,” he said. “She has served outstandingly in all of her required key development assignments from company to Brigade level. Through her initiative and drive, she has captured the critical skills needed to exceed and progress at each level. Col. Dunn has grown from a tactical/operational leader into a transformational leader for the Maine Army National Guard.”
Now serving as the commander of 52nd Troop Command, Tinkham refers to Dunn as a solution oriented leader.
“She focuses on solving problems versus just talking about the problem,” he said. “She also has the humility and self awareness to recognize when a problem is beyond her solve and will actively search out the experts to remedy the situation.” He said he saw this many times during their deployment, and she did it effectively.
Dunn, who has often had to struggle to balance her family needs and her work requirements throughout the decades said that she has worked hard to learn from those around her.
“Some of the greatest advice I received was to ‘let go of the rope,” she said. “If you are in a tug of war or a conflict with someone, it is helpful to let go, stand back and assess. In my experience, this has helped me use my energy more productively rather than just pulling back and forth.”
Dunn considers herself to be a strong type-A personality. The competitive, goal orientated, work driven woman has strived to create balance throughout the years, relying heavily on the support of her family and friends.
“I would not be able to do what I do without huge support from my husband and our extended family,” she said. “Challenges are recognizing the importance of finding balance. I can be a workaholic, but I know my family is just as important, so I do everything I can to attend their events and make it a priority as a leader to ensure soldiers understand this priority too. Giving soldiers permission to not miss, or attend key family events is very important to me.”
She said that the support of her family has enabled her to be able to follow her dreams, and has provided her with support during her journey. She fought hard to understand the roles and responsibilities of training and operations officers so that she could avoid being fenced into the traditional female roles in medical or administrative positions. But she never faced any barriers as she advanced. She knew she had to stand on her own two feet, regardless of her sex in order to get anywhere.
“Just like my male counterparts, I had to demonstrate mental competence and be able to tough it out physically in order to be respected as an officer, regardless of my gender,” said Dunn.
Tinkham agrees. He said that no matter what the circumstances, Dunn has always shown heart and grit when it came time to get down to work.
“I’ve seen her come to work with three hours of sleep, because she is dealing with a sick kid, or had to study all night for her master’s program,” he said. “She would come to work with a smile and work all day seamlessly leading and mentoring subordinates to success. Her work ethic, intellect, interpersonal skills, perseverance and competitive drive to be among the best have minimized any significant obstacles she has faced.”
As Dunn prepares to face her next challenges as Maine’s first female brigade commander, she says she is staying focused on the present, and not letting her mind get too far ahead of her. Her focus is on how she wants to shape her command, and develop that plan.
“I believe that when we look too far forward, we miss opportunities in the present,” she said. So she is buckling down and focusing on her next big target, and where she wants to see her team go professionally.
Dunn has tried to live her life similarly to the quote on her son’s graduation card. Lead your dreams. “Take charge of the path you are on, and it can go wherever you want. Military service is an amazing opportunity, there are many life lessons you learn as you go through what they have to offer. It is, one of our country’s greatest organizations.”
| Date Taken: | 06.30.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 06.30.2014 12:19 |
| Story ID: | 134867 |
| Location: | AUGUSTA, ME, US |
| Web Views: | 641 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Maine's Newest Colonel found success in National Guard, by SSG Angela Parady, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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