BRIGADIER GENERAL DIANE L. DUNN
Commissioner and Adjutant General

Brigadier General Diane L. Dunn serves as the 41st Adjutant General of the Maine National Guard and Commissioner of the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management.

General Dunn’s military career began in 1988 when she was commissioned as an officer in the Maine Army National Guard through the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC). She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Houghton University, followed by a Master of Public Administration from the University of Maine. To deepen her strategic expertise, she completed a Master of Strategic Studies at the U.S. Army War College. She recently earned certification in National Security Management from Syracuse University - Maxwell School.

General Dunn has broken many barriers in the 200-year history of the Maine National Guard. Early in her career, she was the Assistant Professor of Military Science at the University of Maine. In 2009, she deployed to Afghanistan as the Commander of the 286th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion. In 2014, she made history by becoming the first woman to command a brigade in the Maine Army National Guard. As her journey continued, she was selected as the Maine Army National Guard Chief of Staff and Assistant Adjutant General. Her exceptional performance was recognized nationally when she was personally requested by the Director of the Army National Guard to serve as Deputy Commanding General for U.S. Army North at Fort Sam Houston, Texas.

General Dunn transitioned to a new chapter in public service. After retiring from the Maine National Guard in 2021, she joined the University of Maine’s President’s Office, first as a Senior Advisor to the President and later as Chief of Staff, contributing her expertise to higher education leadership. She returned to military service on February 2, 2024 to serve as the first female Adjutant General in the Maine National Guard.

General Dunn combines her distinguished military career with a passion for harness racing, owning and operating Jim Dunn Stables with her husband since 2014. Their stable typically houses 8-10 racehorses, which they train and race across several states, including Maine, Massachusetts, New York and New Jersey. She is deeply committed to the well-being of the animals, offering retirement for some of her horses once they’ve finished their racing careers.

General Dunn was born in Farmington, Maine, where she developed a strong sense of community and tradition that has shaped her life and career. A descendant of Martha Ballard, the 18th-century midwife known for her detailed journals on early American life, she carries forward a legacy of resilience, service, and dedication to both family and community. Her upbringing in Maine and her ancestral connection to Ballard have inspired her commitment to leadership and service, values that continue to guide her in both her personal and professional life.

General Dunn and her husband, Jim, currently reside at Windover Farm in Rome, Maine. They are the proud parents of two daughters, one son and a daughter-in-law; they have three grandchildren and one on the way. Their son, a 2nd Lieutenant in the Maine Army National Guard, continues the family tradition of military service. The Dunn family enjoys a close-knit, multi-generational lifestyle, balancing their professional endeavors with the values of community, care, and tradition.

Official Bio