Jonathan M. Dennis

Jonathan was the youngest son of the late John M. Dennis and Betty A. Dennis, also of Bethesda. Jonathan was born in Prague Czechoslovakia where his father, a U.S. Foreign Service Officer was stationed. He and his family went on to live in Poznan Poland; Rome, Italy; Brussels, Belgium; and Ankara, Turkiye.

This childhood of travel instilled in him a love of reading and learning, and a keen interest in people. After graduation from the American high school, in Ankara, Jonathan returned to Bethesda, where he graduated from American University.

Jonathan proudly served in the U.S. Army on active duty in Germany before continuing his service in the U.S. Army Reserve. He deployed to Hungary with the 55th Material Management Center in 1996 and 1997 to support UN Operations in the former Yugoslavia. After Hungary, Jonathan was sent forward to Slavonski-Brod, Croatia. He later deployed a second time to Kuwait to support Coalition Operations in Iraq. He retired from the Army Reserve in 2019 with the rank of E9, Sergeant Major.

Jonathan joined the U.S. Department of State in 1998 and later took the position of Defense Trade Analyst with the Political-Military Bureau. His colleagues said he was an outstanding leader and demonstrated an unparalleled work ethic and dedication to Licensing’s core mission. State appreciated Jonathan’s commitment to ensuring defense trade advanced our U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives cannot be understated.

Outside of work, Jonathan remained active in athletics at the neighborhood YMCA and his immediate neighborhood Cohasset activities. He was always available to lend a hand and muscle when needed.

Perhaps his favorite activity was his weekend time with the ‘Kaffee Klatch’ at Quartermaine Coffee Roasters in Bethesda. An amicable mix of people who regularly gathered there.

Jonathan is survived by his sister Darienne, brother Geoffrey, and his sister-in-law Lee.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the United Service Organizations (USO), or a community charity of your choosing.

The family will hold a memorial service on April 18, 2026, at Joseph Gawler’s and Sons on Wisconsin Avenue in Washington, D.C.