Vice Admiral William “Dean” Lee entered the U.S. Coast Guard in 1981 and retired in 2016 after nearly 36 years of commissioned service across the Atlantic, Pacific, and Gulf Coasts. He concluded his career as Commander, Atlantic Area, serving as operational commander for 21,000 active personnel executing all Coast Guard missions from the Rocky Mountains to the Arabian Gulf, spanning five Districts and 40 states.
He concurrently served as Commander, Defense Force East, and Director, Joint Task Force East, leading the Department of Homeland Security’s interagency maritime counter-narcotics and alien migration missions. Over his career, Admiral Lee completed fourteen tours of duty, commanding seven.
Vice Admiral Lee is currently a Senior Fellow at the Joint Forces Staff College in Norfolk, Virginia. He lectures nationally at corporate, educational, and government institutions, including Air University, the Defense Intelligence Agency, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and several universities.
As a leadership consultant, he speaks on leadership, ethics, and character development. He serves on the Board of Directors for SAFE Boats International and is a member of The Heritage Foundation’s Military Advisory Panel.
A native of Richmond, Virginia, he holds degrees from George Washington University and the University of South Alabama. He and his wife, Mary, have two children and five grandchildren.