Dean currently serves as Deputy Chief in Emergency Services with Lincoln Fire Department. His career with the department began in 1974 as a firefighter. Dean has served as a company officer on both engine and truck apparatus. In his current capacity he is one of six duty shift Deputy Chiefs. He is responsible for the management of 7 fire stations and approximately half of the 80 on duty personnel on the 24 hour duty shift. As a deputy chief Dean has oversight responsibility for several fire department committees. Dean lead the 1997 International Association of Fire Chiefs Accreditation team for the department that resulted in the department becoming one of the first accredited fire departments in the United States. Dean serves as a Task Force Leader for the FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Team. He served as Task Force Leader of the team that responded to the World Trade Center Incident, after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, and New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina.

Dean is a graduate of the Southeast Community College Fire Protection Program, Architectural Technology program, the National Fire Academy - Executive Fire Officer Program, and Federal Emergency Management Agency courses. He earned a BA in Public Administration from Doane College. Dean has completed graduate courses in community and regional planning at the University of Nebraska.

Dean has participated in and has been a member of the following committees and clubs. Lincoln Fire Department Toastmasters club, International Association of Fire Chiefs, Society of National Fire Academy Instructors, National Fire Protection Association of Education and Fire Service Sections, International Association of Dive/Rescue Specialists, and Professional Qualifications Committee -NFPA 1035 Public Education Officer.

Dean has received numerous awards that included Fire Department Award of Merit for Development and Management of Department's Operation Center Division, Nebraska Foot printers Firefighter of the Year Award, and numerous Military Commendations for outstanding individual and team performance.