Dennis Guise, former Chief Counsel and Executive Director of the Fish and Boat Commission retired from his most recent position as Chief Counsel for the Department of Military Affairs on February 28.
Dennis Guise was appointed Chief Counsel of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs in March 2004. As Chief Counsel, Dennis is responsible for providing a wide variety of legal services on issues ranging from homeland security and the National Guard to veterans homes and programs.
Dennis grew up in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. While attending college and law school, he served as a seasonal park ranger at the Gettysburg National Military Park. He graduated magna cum laude from Gettysburg College in 1969. He was class salutatorian and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. Dennis was designated a distinguished graduate of the Air Force Reserve Officer Training (ROTC) program. After graduation, he continued his professional education at the University of Pennsylvania Law School, from which he earned a juris doctor degree in 1972.
After law school, he served on active duty in the United States Air Force. His first assignment was as assistant Staff Judge Advocate for the United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado. Next, he was appointed as instructor of civil law and editor of the Air Force Law Review at the Air Force Judge Advocate General School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama.
After completing active military service, Dennis served concurrently as Chief Counsel for the Department of Military Affairs and the Fish and Boat Commission from 1978 to 1989.
Prior to assuming additional duties as the Fish and Boat Commission’s Deputy Executive Director in August 1995, Dennis served as Chief Counsel for the Fish and Boat Commission since 1989. In 1996, he assumed additional responsibilities as Deputy Executive Director of the Commission in which he performed duties as Chief of Staff and supervisor of executive office functions, in addition to his duties as Chief Counsel. He was appointed as Chief Counsel for the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs in March 2004.
Dennis is involved in a number of community and other activities. In 2003, he retired, in the grade of Brigadier General (PA Retired), as Staff Judge Advocate for Headquarters, Pennsylvania Air National Guard. He is a member of the Lower Paxton Township Planning Commission. He is a director of the Ralph W. Abele Conservation Scholarship Fund, the Pennsylvania National Guard Scholarship Fund and the National Guard Association of Pennsylvania.
Click Here for the remarks Dennis made on behalf of the Ralph W. Abele Conservation Scholarship Fund in July 2012 unveiling the Pennsylvania historical marker honoring former Fish and Boat Commission Executive Director Ralph Abele.