Dennis’s first career as a Naval Aviator included 20 years of service including 960+ carrier landings, 168 combat sorties in Vietnam, a Master of Sciences in Computer Systems, Command at Sea, CNO Strategic Studies Group V, and supporting CNO Executive Board on strategic investment decisions.​

Upon retirement, he joined GDMS for 23 years through various acquisitions from Hughes and Raytheon. He moved on as BD lead of the Hughes Naval missiles business and then to Director of the strategy of the Tucson Missile Business unit.  He took over as program director of the failing Phalanx business, gaining over a billion in new revenue. He was assigned to the international Excalibur business completing the development to production and deployment.​

He became VP of Business Development for RTN Missiles Systems and was responsible for the development and execution of the growth strategy including US and international. Over his tenure, they increased domestic and international revenue growth by more than 30%.​