In Memoriam: Dennis Guise, Fish & Boat Commission, Dept. Of Military & Veterans Affairs

Today we learned of the passing of Dennis Guise, former Deputy Executive Director and Chief Counsel of the Fish and Boat Commission and Chief Counsel of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.  He passed away on Monday.

Dennis grew up in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.  While attending college and law school, he served as a seasonal park ranger at the Gettysburg National Military Park.  

He graduated magna cum laude from Gettysburg College in 1969.  He was class salutatorian and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa.  Dennis was designated a distinguished graduate of the Air Force Reserve Officer Training (ROTC) program.  

After graduation, he continued his professional education at the University of Pennsylvania Law School, from which he earned a juris doctor degree in 1972.

After law school, he served on active duty in the United States Air Force.  His first assignment was as assistant Staff Judge Advocate for the United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado.  

Next, he was appointed as instructor of civil law and editor of the Air Force Law Review at the Air Force Judge Advocate General School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama.

After completing active military service, Dennis served concurrently as Chief Counsel for the Department of Military Affairs and the Fish and Boat Commission from 1978 to 1989.

Prior to assuming additional duties as the Fish and Boat Commission’s Deputy Executive Director in August 1995, Dennis served as Chief Counsel for the Fish and Boat Commission since 1989.

In 1996, he assumed additional responsibilities as Deputy Executive Director of the Commission in which he performed duties as Chief of Staff and supervisor of executive office functions, in addition to his duties as Chief Counsel.  

He was appointed as Chief Counsel for the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs in March 2004.

Dennis was involved in a number of community and other activities.  In 2003, he retired, in the grade of Brigadier General (PA Retired), as Staff Judge Advocate for Headquarters, Pennsylvania Air National Guard.  

He was a member of the Lower Paxton Township Planning Commission.  He was one of the founding directors of the Ralph W. Abele Conservation Scholarship Fund, a member of the Pennsylvania National Guard Scholarship Fund and the National Guard Association of Pennsylvania.

For just a glimpse of the dedication Dennis had to protecting the environment and the era he grew up in professionally, Click Here for the remarks he made on behalf of the Ralph W. Abele Conservation Scholarship Fund in July 2012 unveiling the Pennsylvania historical marker honoring former Fish and Boat Commission Executive Director Ralph Abele.

Dennis was honored with a moment of silence on the Senate Floor Wednesday when Sen. Lisa Baker (R-Luzerne), former Chair of the Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee, informed the Senate of his passing.

Interment will be at Indiantown Gap Cemetery on October 31, at 12:30 p.m.  Immediately following interment, a Memorial Service will be held at the Keystone Conference Center at 2:00 p.m.
Click Here to read his formal obituary.

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