Saving lives and protecting the nation in hostile environments

Capt. John Dean ’17

Pilot, United States Air Force

MAJOR: AEROSPACE ENGINEERING

Since his time at Notre Dame and serving as a commissioned officer in the United States Air Force, Capt. John Dean ’17 has demonstrated tenacity, bravery, and dedication to the Air Force’s principle of “Service Before Self” in all that he does. 

As an undergraduate and resident of Duncan Hall, Dean balanced life as an aerospace engineering student, a member of the Notre Dame Drumline, and an ROTC cadet — each with its own demanding schedules and duties. For his aerospace capstone project, Project Shearwater, Dean and his team won the Vincent P. Goddard award for best design. Dean also won the Steve Calonje Jazz Award for outstanding contributions to the jazz program during his time at Notre Dame. In his few hours of free time in the Air Force, Dean continues to utilize these skills today to teach percussion at local high schools. 

Upon graduation, Dean attended various flight training programs, spending time at Laughlin Air Force Base, Fort Rucker, and Kirtland Air Force Base. He was competitively selected to be a helicopter pilot and earned a permanent station at the 55th Rescue Squadron at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona. As a pilot of the HH-60 Pave Hawk, Dean risks his life flying into hostile environments and recovering downed aircrew and isolated personnel during day, night, or marginal weather conditions. 

In August 2021, Dean was awarded the Air Force Combat Action Medal for safely maneuvering his aircraft and preserving the lives of his crew while under hostile fire in the Syrian Deconfliction Zone. His dedication to both serving his country and protecting the lives of his fellow wingmen illustrates Dean’s embodiment of the Air Force’s core values of integrity, service, and excellence.