Executive Fellows

VADM Dee L. Mewbourne   
USN (Ret)

Dee-Mewbourne
VADM  Dee L. Mewbourne 
USN (Ret)

Dee Mewbourne retired as a Vice Admiral in 2022 after 40 years of service and is currently pursuing a challenging senior executive position that feeds his passion for bettering humanity. His strength is humbly leading positive strategic change while imbuing an organizational culture of excellence, high performance, integrity, teamwork, and continuous improvement. Most recently, he demonstrated these skills while working in global logistics and serving as an Executive Fellow for the Institute of Defense and Business.

While in uniform Dee commanded nine consequential organizations, including being the only officer in U.S. Navy history to command three nuclear-powered aircraft carriers. He also commanded Military Sealift Command, responsible for providing global maritime logistics support for the U.S. military, two Carrier Strike Groups, and Naval Service Training Command, leading accession training for officer and enlisted personnel. His last assignment was the Deputy Commander of U.S. Transportation Command, one of 11 combatant commands within the Department of Defense, responsible to deploy and sustain joint military forces globally, provide humanitarian assistance, and integrate the multibillion-dollar Joint Deployment and Distribution Enterprise.

A lifelong learner, Dee earned a BS from the U.S. Naval Academy, an MBA from Colorado State University, and is pursuing his Ed.D. in Leadership and Learning in Organizations from Vanderbilt University. He completed the Navy’s nuclear power training program and multiple prestigious leader development courses and is a distinguished graduate of the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School. In addition to numerous military decorations, Dee received the Carl Vinson Leadership Award (1979), Truman Foundation Leadership Award (2012), and National Defense Transportation Association Leadership Award (2022).

In his spare time, Dee enjoys fitness, flying, and family, especially playing with his six beautiful granddaughters.