The Tennessee Military Department is currently in a state of mourning after the passing of a respected figure, retired Col. Dennis Adams, who once held the title of the 8th Colonel of the 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment, and also served the department as its Director of Administrative Services. Col. Adams died at his home on Tuesday at the age of 69, as reported on the Tennessee Military Department's official website.
Maj. Gen. Warner Ross, Tennessee's Adjutant General, said, "Colonel Adams was a great friend, mentor, and leader to all of us in the Military Department." He also added, "He personified selfless service and loved his Soldiers and serving our state," as per a report by the Tennessee Military Department. Having joined the Tennessee Army National Guard in 1979 after obtaining a bachelor's degree from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Adams devoted over 31 years to military service, primarily with the 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment.
Adams' military accolades include leading the largest deployment of a Tennessee National Guard unit since World War II when he deployed the Regiment to Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2004. While overseas, he was charged with the immense responsibility over the readiness and training of his soldiers, numbering over 5,000, in support of both the 1st Infantry Division and later the 42nd Infantry Division, as the Tennessee Military Department commemorated.
Following his retirement in 2009, he continued to serve Tennesseans through various governmental roles. Over the course of a decade, Col. Adams' post-military career saw him contribute to his community as a manager for TennCare, Director of TennCare Contractor and Asset Management Group, Director of Tennessee’s Volunteer Challenge Academy, and Director of Administrative Services for the Tennessee Military Department.
The legacy of Col. Adams stretches beyond the 31 years spent in military uniform and 10 additional years in public service, marking over four decades of dedication to the safety and well-being of Tennesseans, as the Tennessee Military Department's website eloquently noted. The Tennessee Military Department honored the colonel with an official release, including photographs from his time as the 8th Commander of the 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment and as the Director of Administrative Services for the Department.
