Dean Welch, a native of Fairport, N.Y., entered the Army on Jan. 10, 1989.  Welch attended Basic Training at Fort Knox, KY, and graduated Advanced Individual Training at Fort Benjamin Harrison, IN, as a Broadcast Journalist.

Welch served on active duty with the 1^stCavalry Division Public Affairs Office at Ft. Hood, Texas, and the Southern Command Network at Ft. Clayton, Panama. Deciding to leave the active component in 1996, Welch continued his military service with the New York Army National Guard in a variety of Public Affairs positions.  In the hours following the attack on the World Trade Center, Welch was mobilized and served at Ground Zero documenting the NY Army National Guard response to the 9/11 attack in New York City.

In 2004, Welch mobilized with the 42^ndInfantry Division for service in Operation Iraqi Freedom.  During the deployment Welch accessed back to active duty and served at Ft. Bragg, N.C., with the 82^nd Airborne Division.  Other assignments include: U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., First Sergeant of the 5^thMobile Public Affairs Detachment, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., and the Office of the Chief of Public Affairs-Northeast in New York City, Ft. Bliss, Texas, and ROTC Senior Military Instructor at Georgia Military College.

Welch’s combat tours during his 32-year Army career include Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. 

Welch is a graduate of the Sergeant’s Major Course at the U.S. Sergeants Major Academy at Ft. Bliss, Texas.  His military education also includes the Primary Leadership Development Course, Basic Noncommissioned Officer's Course, Advanced Noncommissioned Officer's Course (Distinguished Honor Graduate), the First Sergeant’s Course, and Airborne School.

His civilian education includes a Master of Science degree in Health and Human Performance from Fort Hays State University, a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education from State University College at Brockport, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications/Journalism from St. John Fisher College.

His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (1 Silver Oak Leaf Cluster and 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster), the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal (1 Oak Leaf Cluster), the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Army Achievement Medal (3 Oak Leaf Cluster), the Good Conduct Medal (5^th award), the Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (1 Oak Leaf Cluster), the National Defense Service Medal (1 Bronze Service Star), the Southwest Asia Service Medal (3 Bronze Campaign Stars), the Afghanistan Campaign Medal (1 Bronze Campaign Star), the Iraqi Campaign Medal (1 Bronze Campaign Star), the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with M Device), the NCO Professional Development Ribbon (with numeral 3), the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon (with numeral 2), the Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Medal (with numeral 2), the non-Article 5 NATO Medal, the Kuwaiti Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia), the Kuwaiti Liberation Medal (Kuwait), the Joint Meritorious Unit Award (with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster), the Army Meritorious Unit Commendation (with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster), and the Army Superior Unit Award. 

Welch is married to Christy Lou Zuhlke and they have three boys: Kyle (Jill), Kellin (Amanda), and Kacin and three grandsons: Kellin, Jr.; Isaiah and Josiah.