Not recently active
1943-2017
C.H. "Stretch" Dunn, Jr.
On 26 February 2017, the National Academy of Construction lost one of its newest members, C. H. “Stretch” Dunn, Jr. He was inducted into the Academy in October 2016 in Napa, California. He successfully completed three distinguished careers: 26 years in the United States Army Corps of Engineers; 11 years as a construction industry professional with BE&K; and 14 years of retirement dedicated to volunteerism in the Construction Industry Institute (CII), the United States Military Academy, his church, and his community.
Stretch was the ultimate volunteer, a tremendous thinking partner, a kind gentleman, and a joy to all with whom he associated. Always eager to share his knowledge, he was totally prepared for every presentation and teaching assignment. Every year, he had a “Balance of Life” plan (validated and supported by his wonderful wife, Joan), and set the standard for professionals desiring to plan and execute this life approach. He truly lived life to its fullest.
Stretch graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1966, earned recognition as a distinguished graduate of the Command and General Staff College, achieved the status of an Army War College Fellow, and was a Professional Engineer. He served in Vietnam in three infantry divisions and earned the Expert Infantryman Badge. He co-invented the Dunn-Kempf war game used in teaching war fighting techniques to a generation of small unit leaders.
As the Mobile (AL) District Engineer, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, he was the chief executive officer of a 3,000-person engineering and construction management organization with 40 field offices in the U.S. and Central America. He formed and led a project management team for design and construction of a $160 million large-rocket test facility (the initial partnering project in the federal government). While successfully commanding this organization, he settled major claims through direct dealings with company presidents in a manner that became a model (later referred to as the Alternate Disputes Resolution Procedure) for other CEOs. In addition, he oversaw Department of Defense response efforts to natural disasters in his area along the U.S. Gulf Coast.
He was the commander of the 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division, and successfully performed a myriad of construction tasks, from design through operations.
During his service in Vietnam, Stretch commanded a 200-man unit (Delta Company, 4th Engineer Battalion, 4th Infantry Division), which was highly decorated and recognized for combat engineer excellence in war. He was honored with four awards for valor, including the Silver Star. Stretch also received the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit (2nd Award), the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (5th Award), the Air Medal, the Army Commendation Medal with V-Device, the Ranger Tab, the Parachutist Badge, and the Army Staff Identification Badge. During his military career, he attended both the University of Illinois, where he earned an MS in civil engineering, and the Army War College.
Following military retirement, Stretch served 11 years with BE&K, an international engineering and construction firm based in Birmingham, AL. He served as the principal leadership educator for BE&K’s junior and mid-level leader development, and benchmarked BE&K’s performance versus industry through the analytical firm, Independent Project Analysis (IPA), and the research consortium, CII. He also led an effort to assess the performance of the BE&K joint venture with DuPont (as the Delaware BE&K office doubled in size over a three-year period). In 1997, representing BE&K, he co-chaired the CII Benchmarking Committee.
After retiring from BE&K, he co-wrote two books on professionalism and patriotism, and for the past decade offered corporate and university seminars on “Being the CEO of Your Life,” “Professionalism Under Stress,” “Doing the ‘Harder Right,’” and “Do You Want to Make the Senior Leadership Leap?”
His most noted book, Professionalism under Stress: Lessons for Professionalism, Stress, and Gunfighting, was co-authored with Dr. David Dyson. The book, which is applicable to serious students, cadets, and professionals, offers seven lessons on professionalism, stress, gunfighting, and leadership. The book’s compressed style helps readers turn the lessons into action. Anyone may adopt the material as their own strategy and use the book as a resource for coaching and training.
Beyond the military career and after his well-spent time in corporate America and his writing and co-authoring of books, there was Stretch as a volunteer. Stretch, truly, could never say no when asked to help. He actively served on the board of the 1966 West Point Class. Later, he served on boards in the Birmingham area and was involved with the National Leadership Congress, Life Leaders, the Support Committee for the Alabama National Cemetery, and the Norton Board at Birmingham Southern College.
He and Joan lived in Birmingham, AL. He initiated and actively served his community through his Veterans Leadership Ministry, which provides a haven of acceptance and healing for those quietly suffering from the hidden wounds of war. He enjoyed singing in his church choir, in the West Point Alumni Glee Club, and at weddings and patriotic events. His personal mission was to live life as an obedient servant leader.
For many years, he served as co-instructor for the CII Senior Executive Program, offering a leadership instruction course entitled, “Do You Want to Make the Senior Leadership Leap?” At the request of attendees, his platform time continued to increase over the years. His attention to detail and prior preparation set a high standard for all CII seminar instructors.
Stretch served as consultant to CII Research Team RT281, Project Manager Leadership Competencies Needed in 2020 and Beyond. He helped collect research data from project management seminars, which were attended by 350 senior project managers, and identified future skills and competencies. He was the “thought provider” of this important CII research effort, which produced the CII Meta-Tool Instrument for Project Managers.
He served with distinction in several Unites States Military Academy initiatives, including Cadet Ethics Instruction, the annual Inspiration to Serve program (designed to create a bond between cadets and those who graduated before them), and Combat Leaders Seminars, to help prepare USMA seniors for combat leadership in the war on terror. Of all USMA graduates, Stretch was one of the most active volunteers.
As a member of the Support Committee for the new 479-acre National Cemetery near Birmingham, AL, he served as project director for a scenic overlook project.
Stretch also was the ultimate philanthropic volunteer. He led a church and community effort to educate greater Birmingham, AL, clergy on the unique needs of Vietnam and war on terror veterans diagnosed with post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD) and moral Injury. In addition, he provided volunteer support to a veterans’ homeless shelter, Three Hots and a Cot. He served on local college boards, and provided professional expertise to international students. He also served as a Neighborhood Watch captain, working with neighbors and local police to encourage constant vigilance.
In leadership classes for university students, it is common for participants to be asked to profile themselves with six words. To profile Stretch, however, many more words than six are needed. However, the following is offered as an attempt at Stretch’s profile:
“Ultimate Gentleman with total dedication to
Family, Country, and Volunteerism”
When Stretch supported something, he was into it with his heart and soul.
Whenever we think of the University of Alabama football team, we will always think of Stretch, their number one supporter.
Colonel Stretch Dunn is survived by his loving wife, Joan Smith Dunn; two children (both teachers): Steven Robert Dunn (and wife, Karen) and Cheryl Dunn Faber (and husband, Darrell), along with their mother, Rita Dunn; sisters-in-law: Beth Smith (and husband, Harry) and Donna Harris (and husband, Edgar); grandchildren: Jessica Lynn Dunn, Lauren Nicole Dunn, Alyssa Morgan Dunn, Cameron Robert Faber, and Peyton Ryan Faber; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, LTG Carroll H. Dunn and Letha Dunn, and his sister, Carolyn Dunn Caldwell.
― Bill Badger, 2017
Stretch was the ultimate volunteer, a tremendous thinking partner, a kind gentleman, and a joy to all with whom he associated. Always eager to share his knowledge, he was totally prepared for every presentation and teaching assignment. Every year, he had a “Balance of Life” plan (validated and supported by his wonderful wife, Joan), and set the standard for professionals desiring to plan and execute this life approach. He truly lived life to its fullest.
Stretch graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1966, earned recognition as a distinguished graduate of the Command and General Staff College, achieved the status of an Army War College Fellow, and was a Professional Engineer. He served in Vietnam in three infantry divisions and earned the Expert Infantryman Badge. He co-invented the Dunn-Kempf war game used in teaching war fighting techniques to a generation of small unit leaders.
As the Mobile (AL) District Engineer, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, he was the chief executive officer of a 3,000-person engineering and construction management organization with 40 field offices in the U.S. and Central America. He formed and led a project management team for design and construction of a $160 million large-rocket test facility (the initial partnering project in the federal government). While successfully commanding this organization, he settled major claims through direct dealings with company presidents in a manner that became a model (later referred to as the Alternate Disputes Resolution Procedure) for other CEOs. In addition, he oversaw Department of Defense response efforts to natural disasters in his area along the U.S. Gulf Coast.
He was the commander of the 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division, and successfully performed a myriad of construction tasks, from design through operations.
During his service in Vietnam, Stretch commanded a 200-man unit (Delta Company, 4th Engineer Battalion, 4th Infantry Division), which was highly decorated and recognized for combat engineer excellence in war. He was honored with four awards for valor, including the Silver Star. Stretch also received the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit (2nd Award), the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (5th Award), the Air Medal, the Army Commendation Medal with V-Device, the Ranger Tab, the Parachutist Badge, and the Army Staff Identification Badge. During his military career, he attended both the University of Illinois, where he earned an MS in civil engineering, and the Army War College.
Following military retirement, Stretch served 11 years with BE&K, an international engineering and construction firm based in Birmingham, AL. He served as the principal leadership educator for BE&K’s junior and mid-level leader development, and benchmarked BE&K’s performance versus industry through the analytical firm, Independent Project Analysis (IPA), and the research consortium, CII. He also led an effort to assess the performance of the BE&K joint venture with DuPont (as the Delaware BE&K office doubled in size over a three-year period). In 1997, representing BE&K, he co-chaired the CII Benchmarking Committee.
After retiring from BE&K, he co-wrote two books on professionalism and patriotism, and for the past decade offered corporate and university seminars on “Being the CEO of Your Life,” “Professionalism Under Stress,” “Doing the ‘Harder Right,’” and “Do You Want to Make the Senior Leadership Leap?”
His most noted book, Professionalism under Stress: Lessons for Professionalism, Stress, and Gunfighting, was co-authored with Dr. David Dyson. The book, which is applicable to serious students, cadets, and professionals, offers seven lessons on professionalism, stress, gunfighting, and leadership. The book’s compressed style helps readers turn the lessons into action. Anyone may adopt the material as their own strategy and use the book as a resource for coaching and training.
Beyond the military career and after his well-spent time in corporate America and his writing and co-authoring of books, there was Stretch as a volunteer. Stretch, truly, could never say no when asked to help. He actively served on the board of the 1966 West Point Class. Later, he served on boards in the Birmingham area and was involved with the National Leadership Congress, Life Leaders, the Support Committee for the Alabama National Cemetery, and the Norton Board at Birmingham Southern College.
He and Joan lived in Birmingham, AL. He initiated and actively served his community through his Veterans Leadership Ministry, which provides a haven of acceptance and healing for those quietly suffering from the hidden wounds of war. He enjoyed singing in his church choir, in the West Point Alumni Glee Club, and at weddings and patriotic events. His personal mission was to live life as an obedient servant leader.
For many years, he served as co-instructor for the CII Senior Executive Program, offering a leadership instruction course entitled, “Do You Want to Make the Senior Leadership Leap?” At the request of attendees, his platform time continued to increase over the years. His attention to detail and prior preparation set a high standard for all CII seminar instructors.
Stretch served as consultant to CII Research Team RT281, Project Manager Leadership Competencies Needed in 2020 and Beyond. He helped collect research data from project management seminars, which were attended by 350 senior project managers, and identified future skills and competencies. He was the “thought provider” of this important CII research effort, which produced the CII Meta-Tool Instrument for Project Managers.
He served with distinction in several Unites States Military Academy initiatives, including Cadet Ethics Instruction, the annual Inspiration to Serve program (designed to create a bond between cadets and those who graduated before them), and Combat Leaders Seminars, to help prepare USMA seniors for combat leadership in the war on terror. Of all USMA graduates, Stretch was one of the most active volunteers.
As a member of the Support Committee for the new 479-acre National Cemetery near Birmingham, AL, he served as project director for a scenic overlook project.
Stretch also was the ultimate philanthropic volunteer. He led a church and community effort to educate greater Birmingham, AL, clergy on the unique needs of Vietnam and war on terror veterans diagnosed with post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD) and moral Injury. In addition, he provided volunteer support to a veterans’ homeless shelter, Three Hots and a Cot. He served on local college boards, and provided professional expertise to international students. He also served as a Neighborhood Watch captain, working with neighbors and local police to encourage constant vigilance.
In leadership classes for university students, it is common for participants to be asked to profile themselves with six words. To profile Stretch, however, many more words than six are needed. However, the following is offered as an attempt at Stretch’s profile:
“Ultimate Gentleman with total dedication to
Family, Country, and Volunteerism”
When Stretch supported something, he was into it with his heart and soul.
Whenever we think of the University of Alabama football team, we will always think of Stretch, their number one supporter.
Colonel Stretch Dunn is survived by his loving wife, Joan Smith Dunn; two children (both teachers): Steven Robert Dunn (and wife, Karen) and Cheryl Dunn Faber (and husband, Darrell), along with their mother, Rita Dunn; sisters-in-law: Beth Smith (and husband, Harry) and Donna Harris (and husband, Edgar); grandchildren: Jessica Lynn Dunn, Lauren Nicole Dunn, Alyssa Morgan Dunn, Cameron Robert Faber, and Peyton Ryan Faber; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, LTG Carroll H. Dunn and Letha Dunn, and his sister, Carolyn Dunn Caldwell.
― Bill Badger, 2017
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