Dawn Stankus is a proud alumnus of Viking Drama, 1996-2000. During her time at Viking Middle School she performed in Sight Unseen (Penelope), The Hobbit (Gollum), Godspell (Sonia), 1940s Radio Hour (Ginger Brooks), Bye Bye Birdie (Gloria Rasputin, various), and supported several other performances behind-the-scenes and summer productions. Dawn attended Warren Township High School (2000-2004) where she continued to participate in theater productions and was a four-year member of the WTHS Speech Team. Following high school graduation, Dawn earned a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from Miami (Ohio) University with minors in theater, journalism and naval science. She commissioned as an Ensign through the school’s Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps program in 2008. In 2015, she earned a Master of Arts in Communication Management from the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. As an active, reserve and civilian public affairs professional, Dawn has served throughout the United States and abroad, including: Naval Station Everett (Washington), the Navy Office of Community Outreach (Tennessee), Joint Public Affairs Support Element (Virginia), Navy Office of Information (Washington, D.C.), Expeditionary Strike Group 5 (Bahrain), PCD/PCU/USS America-LHA6, Expeditionary Strike Group 3 (California), U.S. Pacific Fleet (Hawaii), Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command Headquarters (California), NATO’s Allied Command Transformation (Virginia), USS Ronald Reagan-CVN76 (Yokosuka, Japan) and Carrier Strike Group 4 (Virginia). In April 2023, she reported to Commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic in Norfolk, Virgina to serve as the command’s public affairs officer. On Sept. 1, 2023, Dawn was promoted to the rank of U.S. Navy Commander (O-5). She is authorized to wear the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (2), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (4), Navy Achievement Medal, and multiple unit and campaign awards.