I was so sad to learn of the news of Dean's passing. I met Dean as a member of NCMS back in 2003. He was kind enough to take the time to mentor me and teach me a new system issued by DoD back then for which I will forever be grateful. My sincere condolences to your family and may he rest in peace. Thank you for your service Dean!

Dean was such a wealth of knowledge and available to provide assistance to all. I often would ask him for guidance and assistance as I transferred into industrial security.

Dean Wright's reputation in the realm of industrial security is legendary and unsurpassed! He will be remembered for his wealth of expertise and his voracious desire to share this gift with those that he mentored, as well as his peers. An exemplary soldier and great American that will be irreplaceable at NCMS!

Annette and family, my husband Richard and I would like to offer our sympathy at this time of deep sorrow. Elizabeth (Auclair) Cookson.

Dean was a true American Patriot!

I met Dean through NCMS as a fellow Security Professional. Dean was a kind and knowledgeable man who helped me with many questions I had throughout the years. He was a very special man and will be sadly missed by all who knew him..

Sincere condolences to the Wright family. Mr. Dean was no doubt "THE" mainstay throughout the Mid-Atlantic Region's NCMS Chapter and a valuable resource for obtaining information on all things security-related. We have lost a remarkable gentleman and he will indeed be truly missed.

I was very sad to learn of Dean passing. My thoughts and prayers are with his family at this very difficult time. Dean will be greatly missed.

As a member of the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of NCMS, it was natural to be guided immediately to Dean for assistance in becoming a new FSO. Dean offered up his assistance and guidance to me which I am grateful everyday as I perform my FSO functions. He is truly a Pillar of National Security and he will be certainly missed by many. My best wishes to his wife and family. I have spoken with his wife several times as she attended faithfully many chapter meetings, helping Dean with his "Papers".

Dean was my mentor and someone who was very special to all of us in the Industrial Security World. I always said he was the only person on the planet who could recite word for word the NISPOM. I can honestly say that if it weren't for Dean, I would not be where I am today. He will be truly missed as he touched the lives of so many with his knowledge, warm smile, and friendship. My condolences to Annette and his family.

I was fortunate enough to have known Col Wright as an industrial security colleague through NCMS. His warmth and mentoring skills were always on full display. Decades of young men and women learned from him how to protect our nation's secrets, helping keep our young men and women in uniform safer. In 2007, NCMS honored him with the Lonnie R. Buekels President's Award because of the significance of his accomplishments and the length of his service. (I know. I submitted the write-up that was the basis of the award.) He is a wonderful man, father, patriot, mentor and leader who will be greatly missed. He and all his family are in my thoughts and prayers.

Like many others in the National Industrial Security community, I will miss my mentor Col. Dean Wright. I first met Dean by attending every one of his FSO 101 courses. He offered a lot of knowledge and if he did not know the answer, he was always sure to follow up. He was a rock at all our NCMS Chapter Meetings, especially with his warm smile and firm handshake. He was also a very modest and unassuming gentlemen, who never mentioned or alluded to his extensive military career, civilian career or vast educational background. I will miss you, Dean. My condolences to his family.

Like many DoD Facility Security Officers (FSO), Dean was a wonderful blessing to me. I met Dean over 25 years ago when I began to work in Security. Dean immediately became a friend I could turn to any time. Dean mentored many of us. He provided "FSO 101" Training which he created, He provided classes at no cost which took us through all aspects of Security work. We went home with stacks of floppy disks, flyers, and documents which he provided at no cost. He was the lead Founder of the Monmouth County Industrial Security Advisory Council (ISAC) created and led by Security Professionals on a voluntary basis. He later merged the group with the National Classification Management Society (NCMS). Dean and Annette would go around the country to Security Conferences and Dean would obtain any training materials and "freebies" the speakers and vendors would give him to bring to his home. Then, when we had an ISAC/NCMS meeting, he would arrive in his truck with "bee" on the side filled with boxes and boxes of materials! The facility would provide numerous tables so he could display the documents, posters, videotapes, pens, etc. which were all free for the taking! We could call Dean anytime we had a problem which needed to be solved. If he didn't know the answer, he would refer us to another FSO who had experience in that subject. Dean has been a blessing to me in my career as a Security Officer. He was a true friend who we are all going to miss. Annette, I pray that God sends comfort and peace to you and your family as the life your special friend and blessing, Dean, has ended.

Bob and Claudette made a donation to St. Vincent de Paul Society at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church

We are very sorry to hear about your loss. From our family to yours, our most heartfelt sympathies.