Colonel Stephen R. Dinauer, USMC
Active Duty 1986-2013

Class of 1986

A Wisconsin native, Colonel Dinauer was commissioned in 1986 through the Naval ROTC program after earning a Bachelor of Science in International Relations at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  He completed his Master of Arts in National Security Studies at the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island.

Educated and trained as an infantry and light armored reconnaissance officer, Colonel Dinauer has served in a variety of operational billets leading Marines at the platoon, company, and battalion levels.  His combat experience includes the Southwest Asia Campaign (Desert Shield/Storm), and the Iraq Campaign where he led the 3d Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion in the Al Anbar Province, to include the battle to retake the city of Fallujah in November 2004 with a joint, combined task force.

Colonel Dinauer has also served in the supporting establishment at the Marine Barracks in Washington, DC and with the Marine Embassy Security Group that provides security to select US embassies. Additionally, he had assignments in the Pentagon with Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff’s Antiterrorism/Force Protection Directorate, and in the Office of the Secretary of Defense in the Strategy and Force Planning office, and as the Senior Military Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations/Low-Intensity Conflict.

Colonel Dinauer’s military schools included the Marine Corps’ ‘The Basic School,’ Infantry Officer Course, Winter Mountain Leaders Course, and Command and Staff College.  He also completed the US Army’s Airborne School, Armor Officer Advanced Course, and Cavalry Leaders Course.

Colonel Dinauer was the Commanding Officer of Security Battalion, and the Assistant Chief of Staff for Security and Emergency Services for Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. Prior to retirement, he was the Commanding Officer and Professor of Naval Science of the Naval ROTC Program at the University of Colorado Boulder.

His personal decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit (with Gold Star), Bronze Star Medal (with Valor Device), Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (with Valor Device and one Gold Star), and the Combat Action Ribbon (with Gold Star).

Following his retirement after 27 years of active duty, Colonel Dinauer served as the Director of the University of Colorado Boulder’s Presidents Leadership Class from 2013-2017. He continues to serve his community as a member of various organizations and volunteer efforts.