North Attleboro High School Alumni Association

Colonel Maggie Dunn
Joseph W. Martin, Jr. Distinguished Alumni Award
2012

That Colonel Dunn has distinguished herself among the highest levels of U.S. military leadership domestically and abroad is noteworthy. That Colonel Dunn has conducted herself with the utmost honor in the pressurized world of military combat is remarkable. However, that she has demonstrated supreme competence, poise and humility throughout her career is no surprise to those at NAHS who knew Maggie Dunn from her days as a competitive, record-setting student-athlete in the Class of 1982.

Maggie made a strong first impression as a member of the cross country and spring track teams during her freshman year. Former coach Charlie Ayotte remembers Dunn as "humble and determined . . . the epitome of the North Attleboro athlete." According to Ayotte, "Maggie was as tenacious in practice as she was in competition." Former coach Dwight Estey concurs. He recalls that Maggie Dunn was "very coachable. She was as hard working as we asked her to be, and she was never one to show that she felt pressure or fear before a race." These qualities have served her well in her professional career.

Dunn's efforts in the grueling two mile race established a school record that lasted for ten years and set a standard of high expectations that quickly became the hallmark of the fledgling girls spring track program. With the help of Maggie in the two mile and as a leg of the 4 X 400 relay team, the 1979 North girls achieved their first-ever winning season, finishing undefeated in league competition. Maggie competed in Spring Track and Cross Country all four years, serving as Cross Country captain as a senior.

After graduation from high school, Maggie Dunn embarked on a military career that saw her advance through the ranks while excelling at a variety of duties at home and abroad. She was commissioned through the Federal Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia in 1988.

Upon graduation from the Air Defense Artillery Branch Officer Basic Course, Col. Dunn served with the 2nd Battalion, 52nd Air Defense Artillery (Airborne), Fort Bragg, North Carolina as a Platoon Leader, Battery Executive Officer and Battalion S1. She deployed in support of Operation Desert Storm and later was assigned as Deputy Brigade S3 for the 94th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, Kaiserslautern, Germany. Col. Dunn commanded Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 32nd Army Air Defense Command, Darmstadt, Germany.

After command, she served briefly as a Force Development Officer at Fort Lee, Virginia before deploying to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia with the Joint Task Force—Southwest Asia in support of Operation Southern Watch as the Director for Ground Combat Operations and Air Defense Plans.

Col. Dunn returned to Fort Bragg, North Carolina as the Adjutant for 18th Aviation Brigade. While assigned to 18th Aviation Brigade, Col. Dunn was selected to deploy with the Commanding General of Fort Jackson, South Carolina as the Assistant Chief of Staff, G1 for a Task Force with the strategic mission of training Free Iraqi Forces (FIF) in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. After redeployment, she returned to Fort Bragg and was assigned as the Human Relations Program Manager for XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg. Col. Dunn then deployed to serve as the Multi-National Corps – Iraq, Director for Human Relations located in Baghdad, Iraq. Upon redeployment, she attended the National War College.

After graduating from the War College, Col. Dunn deployed to Sadr City, Iraq, serving as a Senior Advisor to the Ministry of Interior. She returned to Fort Bragg serving as the XVIII Airborne Corps Secretary to the Generals Staff. While serving with XVIII Airborne Corps, Col. Dunn deployed in support of humanitarian relief efforts two days after a massive earthquake struck Haiti. Col. Dunn returned to Fort Bragg and was nominated as the United States Forces - Iraq Inspector General and is currently deployed in this capacity.

Her military education includes graduation from the Air Defense Artillery Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, the Combined Arms and Services Staff School, the United States Army Command and General Staff College, the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute Program Managers Course. She is a graduate of both the Department of Defense and the Department of the Army Inspector General Courses. Col. Dunn holds a Bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and a Masters Degree in Strategic Studies and National Security from the National War College, Fort Leslie McNair, and Washington, DC.

Maggie Dunn's senior quote in the 1982 Northern Light reads: "Progress always involves risks. You can't steal second base and keep your foot on first." Col. Dunn’s post-high school career is a study in progress during which she has risked her life in defense of our country. She has become one of the most accomplished "base stealers" in NAHS history.