Maine National Guard leader to give NMCC Commencement Address

7 months ago

PRESQUE ISLE, Maine  — Northern Maine Community College is honored to announce that Brigadier General Diane L. Dunn of the Maine National Guard will deliver the Commencement Address for its 59th graduating class ceremony, extending a great honor to the institution. NMCC’s commencement will be held at The Forum in Presque Isle on Saturday, May 11, beginning at 10 a.m.

General Dunn assumed her duties as the 41st Adjutant General, Maine National Guard on February 2, and serves as commissioner for the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management. General Dunn is responsible for managing the activities of Maine’s Army and Air National Guard, Maine Bureau of Veterans’ Services, and Maine Emergency Management Agency.

General Dunn is Maine’s first female adjutant general and the first female general officer in the 200-year history of the Maine Army National Guard.

“Brigadier General Dunn’s remarkable achievements and service record demonstrate the values we strive to impart upon NMCC graduates beginning their next chapter of life. I can think of no better role model to give this year’s commencement address,” stated NMCC President Timothy Crowley. “It will be a tremendous privilege to host General Dunn in May. Her achievements and leadership are an inspiration to us all.”

General Dunn is a 1988 graduate of Houghton College (now University) and earned her commission through the St. Bonaventure University Army ROTC program. She joined the Maine Army National Guard in 1988 and served in various assignments as a traditional guardsman.

In 1997, General Dunn transitioned to Active Guard and Reserve status. In 2002, she was assigned as an assistant professor of military science at the University of Maine. In 2009, she deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan as commander, 286th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, and later served as brigade commander of the 120th Regional Support Group, Maine Army National Guard chief of staff and assistant adjutant General-Army.

For more information about NMCC’s 59th annual Commencement Ceremony, please visit nmcc.edu or NMCC’s Facebook page.