Dennis Marvin Drew

Dennis M. (Denny) Drew, Colonel, U.S. Air Force (retired), died May 24, 2024 ending a long and full life of service to the United States and to his family. Born in Seattle, Washington on 27 May 1942 during a "blackout" caused by the threat of a Japanese air raid, he grew up in Bend, Oregon with his parents Harry and lone Drew and his only sibling, John, where he lived until 1960, He attended Bend Senior High School then began college in Salem, Oregon at Willamette University. In 1962 he married his high school sweetheart Susan Carol (Sue) Merrill and thus began a marriage that would last well over half a century until his death. The first years were certainly not easy as Willamette was a very expensive private university. A scholarship was a great help, as were part-time jobs and a small stipend paid by the Air Force because he was part of the Air Force ROTC program at Willamette. But it was Sue who became the breadwinner working as a dental assistant while Denny completed his studies with a degree in history and a commission as a second lieutenant in the Air Force in 1964.

Denny and Sue were first assigned to Mt. Home AFB in Idaho. Denny quickly volunteered for duty in Vietnam, worried that if he didn't get there soon, the war would be over and his career in limbo. Little did he know that it would continue on for many years to come. His wish was granted and in late 1966 he went to Southeast Asia where he served with a fighter wing at Tuy Hoa in South Vietnam and finished his tour of duty with an Air Commando wing at Nakhon Phanom in northern Thailand near the border of North Vietnam. While he was gone, in the spring of 1967 Sue gave birth to their first child, Dennis Jr., making her year without Denny even more of a challenge.

Denny came home from Southeast Asia to an assignment as a Strategic Air Command missile launch officer at Francis E. Warren AFB in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Duty as a launch crew commander in charge of ten nuclear tipped ICBMs at the height of the Cold War was challenging. Even more challenging was the birth of their daughter, Kirsten Rene plus a Master's degree program from the University of Wyoming. This was followed by a tour of duty at Strategic Air Command Headquarters at Offutt AFB near Omaha, Nebraska.

All of this had been interesting, educational, at times dangerous and exciting. But what followed proved to be the assignment that would make Denny's career unique and would shape the lives of all four Drews. Denny was selected to attend the Air Command and Staff College at Air University in Montgomery, Alabama. Normally, the Command and Staff College lasts only ten months. For Denny, his assignment to Air University would last for the next 15 years in uniform followed by an additional 16 years as a civilian.

After graduating from the Command and Staff College, he was asked to stay on as an instructor for the next three years, during which he earned yet another graduate degree, this time from the University of Alabama. He was then asked to help establish the Airpower Research Institute, which eventually became an influential "think tank" for the Air Force. Responsible for a staff of military academics, Denny became the "lead thinker," so to speak, becoming the most published author of original books and journal articles concerning airpower strategy and doctrine at Air University and perhaps in the history of the Air Force up to that time. Over the years, his publications led to invitations to teach and speak for allied air forces around the world, including engagements in Great Britain, Norway, The Netherlands, Germany and Australia.

Denny also played a leading role in convincing the senior leadership that Air University needed to add rigor to its academic programs and needed to foment new ideas through original research and writing. In doing this, he stepped on a good many toes but the upshot of his efforts was the establishment of the School of Advanced Air and Space Studies which would become fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award a Master's degree, the first ever at Air University. This eventually led to the accreditation of revised and upgraded programs at both the Air War College and Air Command and Staff College.

Denny retired from active duty as the Dean of the School of Advanced Air and Space Studies shortly after the graduation of its first class. However, he was rehired as a civilian to play a continuing role as the Associate Dean and a professor of the school. In that capacity he continued to write, publish, guide students, and lecture both in the United States and abroad.

During these many years of academic leadership he was the recipient of many honors including the Legion of Merit, being named an Air University Professor Emeritus, and in 2003 being knighted by Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands in the Order of Orange-Nassau for his work with the Royal Netherlands Air Force.

In 2008 Denny again retired from the Air Force, this time as a civilian. His final years were spent pursuing woodworking and golf, wishing he was better at both, and realizing that were it not for his beloved Sue, probably none of his adventures and accomplishments would have ever come to pass. Their love story continued and grew stronger as long as they lived.

He is survived by his loving wife, Susan (Sue) Drew; children Dennis Drew Jr and wife Angela and Kirsten (Krissie) Womble and husband Timothy; and numerous grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his parents Harry and Ione Drew; and brother, John Michael Drew.

In lieu of remembrances please make donations to the Wounded Warriors at support.woundedwarriorproject.org