Dennis is a retired Colonel in the United States Marine Corps and a Vietnam veteran. His 30-year military career has provided him with extensive experience in leadership, strategic planning and logistics. He also served with the Marine Corps Development and Education Command, Quantico, VA; J-4 for the Joint Task Force for the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, GA, and G-4 for the 4th FSSG, in New Orleans, LA.
He has spent most of his life dedicated to education either in the military or as a civilian. After active duty and Vietnam, he worked as a media director for Ninety-Six High School in Ninety-Six, SC. In 1975 he founded The Sunshine House, Inc. growing the organization to 144 early childhood education facilities with over 22,000 students and 3200 teachers. He sold the company in 2011.
Dennis continues to be active in education in South Carolina where he has served as a member of the State Education Oversight Committee and Chairman of South Carolina’s Charter School Advisory Committee. He also served as Governor Mark Sanford’s Education Policy Advisor during the Governors first term.
Dennis is now Chaiman of Tactical NightSight Technologies, Inc. a company seeking to provide the military with the technology to display depth and increased situational awareness in combat and tactical vehicles. He is also managing partner in several real estate entities. His company “Affirmation LLC” provides growth capital to startup companies in South Carolina.
He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education from Eastern Illinois University, and Master’s Degree in Media and Instructional Development from East Carolina University. In 2002 he was awarded an honorary Ph.D. in Business and Administration from Charleston Southern University.
Dennis is married to the former Lynn Rutledge Kelly and combined they have three daughters and seven grandchildren. They reside in Mt. Pleasant, SC.