Lieutenant Colonel Dunne grew up in Pound Ridge, New York as a devout Giants fan. He attended the United States Naval Academy and was commissioned as a Marine second lieutenant on May 31, 1995. After attending the basic officer and infantry officer courses at The Basic School, Lieutenant Dunne was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines in Twenty Nine Palms, California. While with “2/7” he deployed twice to Okinawa, Japan and held the billets of rifle platoon commander, weapons platoon commander and 81mm mortar platoon commander.
In January of 1999, Lieutenant Dunne reported to Marine Barracks, Washington D.C. where he served in a variety of billets including project manager for the Marine Corps Institute, marching company executive officer, Silent Drill Platoon commander, assistant operations officer and senior White House social aide.
In July of 2002, Captain Dunne was reassigned to 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines in Camp Pendleton, California where he served as the company commander of Golf Company and Weapons Company, and as the battalion fire support coordinator. While with “The Professionals,” Captain Dunne deployed twice and participated in Operations Iraqi Freedom I and II, including Operation Vigilant Resolve. Captain Dunne reported to the Naval Post Graduate School in Monterey, California in January 2005 where he earned a masters degree in national security affairs.
In July of 2006 Major Dunne reported to the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization in Arlington, Virginia and deployed to Afghanistan as the officer-in-charge of a counter-IED team in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Upon returning from Afghanistan in August of 2007, Major Dunne reported to Plans, Policies and Operations at Headquarters Marine Corps where he served as an action officer in the Readiness Branch and as the aide-de-camp to the Deputy Commandant for Plans, Policies and Operations.
In October of 2009, Major Dunne reported to 5th Marine Regiment in Camp Pendleton, California where he was assigned as the officer-in-charge of an advisor team in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Following pre-deployment training with the Advisor Training Group, First Marine Expeditionary Force, Major Dunne deployed to Afghanistan as the senior advisor to the 6th Kandak (Battalion) of the Afghan National Border Police. Upon returning from Afghanistan, Major Dunne was transferred to 3rd Marine Regiment in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.
In June of 2011, LtCol Dunne assumed command of 2d Battalion, 3d Marines. While in command, the “Island Warriors” deployed forces to Australia as the inaugural Marine Rotational Force – Darwin, and to Okinawa, Japan as the first infantry battalion to support the Unit Deployment Program in nearly a decade. While deployed, the battalion supported fourteen exercises spanning thirteen countries in the Pacific area of operations. At the conclusion of his command tour, Lieutenant Colonel Dunne served as the Commandant of the Marine Corps Fellow to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence from September 2013 until May 2014. Lieutenant Colonel Dunne is currently serving as the Executive Officer, Marine Barracks, Washington, DC.
Lieutenant Colonel Dunne’s personal decorations include the Bronze Star Medal with two gold stars and a combat distinguishing device, the Meritorious Service Medal with gold star, the Navy Commendation Medal with gold star and combat distinguishing device, the Navy Achievement Medal and the Army Achievement Medal.