Commander Dennis "Coach" Warren is the recipient of the 2009 USS STENNIS "Straight Furrow" Award which recognizes an enlisted person or officer who best demonstrates the values and principles of honor, courage, commitment, foresight and integrity.  A native of Kenosha, WI, he graduated from Tremper High school in 1980 and Gateway Technical College in 1986.  Commander Warrren enlisted in the Naval Aviation Cadet Program and graduated from Aviation Officer Candidate School in January 1988.  He entered Primary flight training in Pensacola, Florida, in March 1988 and was concurrently commissioned an ensign and winged in Beeville, Texas, in November 1989, and selected to fly the S-3A Viking.

Commander Warren reported to VS 41 for S-3A anti-submarine warfare training.  In 1991, he transferred overseas to VRC 50, NAS Cubi Point, Philippines, flying the US-3A, completing multiple detachments in support of six deployed carriers throughout the Western Pacific theater.  Due to the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo and the closure of Cubi Point, VRC 50 changed homeport to Anderson AFB, Guam in 1992, where he completed his tour. 

Upon transition to the ES-3A Shadow in 1993, Commander Warren reported to VQ 6 in Jacksonville, FL. He began work-ups with DET Delta and deployed to the Mediterranean/Persian Gulf in 1995 with Carrier Air Wing 8 (CVW 8) onboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71).  Five months later, he began work-ups for his second six-month Mediterranean/Persian Gulf deployment in 1996 with CVW 3 onboard CVN 71 serving as Asst. Officer in Charge.  There he flew reconnaissance missions over Bosnia-Herzegovina and Iraq during DENY FLIGHT, SOUTHERN WATCH, DELIBERATE GUARD, and DELIBERATE FORCE, which was the first combat use of ES-3A Shadow.  He qualified as ES-3A/S3-B Evaluator and Aircraft/Mission Commander and he earned his B.S. in Aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

In July 1997, Commander Warren returned to South Texas to train advanced jet pilots in the T-45A Goshawk in VT-21.  He served as Information Systems Department head and Network Manager.  He qualified as T-45A NATOPS/Instrument Evaluator and STAN pilot in eight phases. Due to the decommissioning of the ES-3A squadrons, he transitioned to the E-6 Mercury. 

In March 1999, Commander Warren reported to NTSU at Tinker AFB, OK, for E-6 training, joining VQ 4 in August 1999 deploying throughout the U.S. and Europe.  In addition, he graduated from the U.S. Air Force Command and Staff War College.  In 2001, he transferred to VQ 3 serving as the Safety/NATOPS Department Head earning the CNO Safety "S" Award in 2001, and served as the Maintenance Department Head.  He qualified as E-6A/B Instructor/Check Pilot and Aircraft/Mission Commander Evaluator.

In November 2003, he reported to the Navy Personnel Command as the VQ Community Detailer, fleeting up to VQ/VT (Maritime) Placement Officer and SEA/SHORE Coordinator.  Concurrently, he graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, with a double Masters of Science Degrees in Aerospace Operations and Management. 

Commander Warren assumed duties as Executive Officer of the VQ-7 Roughnecks on 8 June 2006 and assumed Command as "Roughneck One" on 12 June 2007.  He qualified as E-6B and Boeing 737NG Instructor/Check Pilot.  While commanding VQ-7, the squadron earned the Commander THEODORE G. ELLYSON Aviator Production Excellence Award for 2007, CNO Safety "S" Award for 2007, along with the 2007 Commander, Naval Air Forces Battle Efficiency "Blue M" for Medical excellence.  In addition, Commander Warren was awarded the 2007 Navy and Marine Corps Association Leadership Award.

In August 2008, Commander Warren assumed the duties of Navigator on USS John C. Stennis, CVN 74.  He recently completed a six month 2009 WESTPAC deployment.

Commander Warren's awards include Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal (Flight/Strike) (two awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (four awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (three awards) and several personal and unit decorations/awards.  He has flown over 4000 flight hours in 19 different aircraft an evaluator in five different aircraft, and has accumulated 389 arrested landings on 10 aircraft carriers. 

He and his wife Cheri have three children, Tara, Alec and Madeleine.