Rear Adm. Dean VanderLey is a native of Tacoma, Washington. He is a Calvin College graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and received his commission from the U.S. Navy’s Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island in 1991. He holds a Master of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Stanford University. After entering the Navy through the nuclear submarine training pipeline, VanderLey served on USS Michigan (SSBN 727), in various division officer positions from 1993-1996. He then served as the lead instructor for the Trident Prospective Commanding Officer course at Trident Training Facility, Bangor.

VanderLey was selected for transfer to the Civil Engineer Corps (CEC) in 1998. His initial CEC tours included assistant resident officer in charge of construction at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard; assistant public works officer, Naval Air Station Keflavik, Iceland; and operations officer for Naval Mobile Construction Battalion Seven.
His facilities and staff tours include planning officer, Navy Installations Command; executive assistant to the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Installations and Environment); public works officer, Naval Station Norfolk; Civil Engineer Corps head detailer; deputy commander for operations, Naval Facilities Engineering Command Atlantic; vice commander, Naval Facilities Engineering Command Atlantic.

VanderLey assumed the duties of Commander, Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command, and became the 46th Chief of Civil Engineers on 12 August 2022. He previously commanded Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Atlantic and held duties as fleet civil engineer, U.S. Fleet Forces Command; Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Mid-Atlantic; and Naval Mobile Construction Battalion Four. Most recently, he commanded Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Pacific and held duties as Fleet Civil Engineer and N46, U.S. Pacific Fleet.

His decorations include the Legion of Merit (four awards), Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal (six awards), Navy Commendation Medal (three awards), Navy Achievement Medal (four awards), Combat Action Ribbon, Presidential Unit Commendation Ribbon, and Iraq and Afghanistan Campaign Medals. VanderLey is a Submarine and Seabee Combat Warfare officer, Joint Qualified Officer, member of the Acquisition Professional Community, registered Professional Engineer, and a Certified Energy Manager. VanderLey is proud to have served with teams authorized to wear the Army and Navy Meritorious Unit Commendations, Navy “E” Ribbon, and in receipt of the Peltier Award.