A Life Member of the OAEA since 2014 and elected as Vice President of the Association in 2024, Dr. Dewey Painter is a retired Naval Officer with 23 years’ service (enlisted and officer) and retired U.S. Air Force Auxiliary Chaplain Lt. Colonel with 24 years’ service. Assigned as the DF73 winter over Supply Officer, he volunteered to fly in on the first Winfly flight so the inventory and turnover of Disbursing and Ship’s Store could be done prior to the arrival of the summer team to avoid the delays normally associated with accountability turn over. Besides his winter over duties as Supply Officer, he participated in building the first Ice Cube buffer for ships coming in to dock and unload. Later, during the winter in preparation for the new season, when an aviation officer was needed for Officer in Charge (OIC) at Williams Field, he was the only winter over officer with aviation experience (Air Crew designation earned during enlisted service), so he was made the OIC of Williams Field. It was during his tenure as OIC of the landing strip, that he organized and led a 5-man rescue team, to search for a three-man group caught in a whiteout when their 6X truck cut off and failed to restart and failed communications. His team linked themselves together with 30-foot search ropes on either side of the search vehicle to cover as much area as was possible. The stranded group was successfully located and returned to the Williams Field facility to recover.
Beyond his ice and military experience, he has a number of qualifications, with personal and professional accomplishments and accolades. Sir Dewey Painter was knighted by Military Order of St. Michael as a Grand Knight. He was Founder and Executive Director South East American Indian Council and CEO Mission Harvest America; past Chancellor or President of 4 colleges and current Chancellor National University Liberia; and President of International Education Professional Accreditation Associate. He has undergraduate degrees in Education and Administration, Graduate degrees in Education and Administration, and Post Graduate Ph.D. degrees in Management Science, Education (2), and Counseling. He has served on the Board of Directors for 14 community based nonprofit organizations. He is serving on Community Action Boards University Florida College of Pharmacy, University Florida College of Journalism, HEMI, Florida Occupant Protection Coalition, Advisory Board MAYO Clinic Spirit of Eagles, and was Project Manager Florida State DOH and South Carolina State DHEC for American Indian health programs supervising two projects with the University Florida College Pharmacy and three projects with the South Carolina DHEC. Professional achievements also include Professional Clinical Member, Certified Pastoral Counselor, Certified Post-Graduate Professor, Post-Secondary Teacher, and Secondary Teacher. Listed in Who’s Who in the South and Southwest, Who’s Who in American Education, and Who’s Who of International Professionals. He was Awarded the Military Chaplaincy Association’s Distinguished Service Award 2003. He is an Active Elder member of the White Bear Muskogee Tribal Village in Florida and is the author of 8 books and has a 9th awaiting publishing.