Capt. Margaret E. C. Dean,
Deputy Commander, Maritime Expeditionary Security Group 2
Capt. Margaret E. C. Dean is a native of Chattanooga, Tennessee, and a 1997 graduate of the United States Naval Academy, where she holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Ocean Engineering and was commissioned into the Navy. She holds Master’s Degrees in business from the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland, and Defense and Strategic Studies with distinction from the Naval War College.
Upon commissioning from the Naval Academy, Dean reported to her initial assignment onboard the USS Hayler (DD 997) in Norfolk, VA. Onboard the USS Hayler, she served as the Fire Control Officer and Training Department Head. During that tour she made two deployments, first to the Arabian Gulf in support of Operation Desert Fox, and a subsequent Unitas deployment to South America where the Hayler provided critical life-saving support to the USS La Moure County following her grounding. Ashore, she served as the Naval Academy’s Director of Network Centric Warfare and an instructor of Professional Development programs.
Upon affiliating with the Navy Reserves, she first served with the Chief of Naval Operations Capabilities and Assessments Unit located in Washington D.C. Other staff assignments include:
Office of Naval Research Navy Reserve (NR) Headquarters Unit 100 and NR Military Sealift Command Far East Unit 101 in St. Louis, Missouri.
Her command tours include NR USS Stephen W. Groves (FFG 29), Maritime Expeditionary Security Squadron 12 (MSRON 12) Detachment Charlie, Coastal Riverine Squadron 11 (CRS 11) Security Boat Company Alpha, NR Littoral Combat Ship Surface Warfare Atlanta, NR Commander Naval Surfaces U.S. Pacific Fleet Type Commander Headquarters, and NR United States Fleet Forces Command Maritime Operations Center Greensboro. Overseas she mobilized in support of Operation Enduring Freedom as the Mission Commander for the Port of Jebel Ali, United Arab Emirates.
Most recently, Dean served as the Commanding Officer for Maritime Expeditionary Security Squadron 10 (MSRON 10) from January 2022 to April 2024.
She is the recipient of various personal decorations and campaign medals and has had the distinct honor of serving with shipmates and on teams who were awarded the Navy Unit Commendation and the Meritorious Unit Award.