We have a most appropriate guest for Veterans Day.
Vice Admiral Dirk J. Debbink, U.S. Navy Reserve (retired) served on active duty with U.S. Navy as the 12th Chief of Navy Reserve on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations in Washington, DC, from July 2008 to August 2012 prior to his retirement on 30 September 2012. His service as a Surface Warfare Officer began in 1977 when he reported aboard USS FANNING (FF-1076), as Main Propulsion Assistant and later as Navigator during a Western Pacific deployment. His 35 years of active involved with the Navy included approximately 11 years active duty and 24 years of drilling reserve duty, including four years as the Reserve Deputy Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet.
In his civilian capacity, he is Chairman of MSI General Corporation in Oconomowoc, WI. The company is a design-build general contractor specializing in new construction and renovation of industrial, retail, commercial and institutional buildings throughout Southeast Wisconsin.
He currently serves on the board of directors of Cincinnati Financial Corporation of Cincinnati, OH; Navy League of the United States – Milwaukee Council; and Discovery World Museum in Milwaukee. He previously served as president of Fisher House Wisconsin and chairman of First Bank Financial Centres in Oconomowoc, WI.
VADM Debbink graduated from the US Naval Academy in 1977 and earned his MBA from the University of Chicago in 1990. He is registered as a Professional Engineer and a Real Estate Broker in the State of Wisconsin.
