# Dell L. Dailey

Dell Lee Dailey (born 1949) is a retired United States Army lieutenant general and former head of the State Department's counterterrorism office, serving from July 2007 to April 2009.

## Childhood and education

Dailey was born into an Army family in Flandreau, South Dakota. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1971 and earned a master's degree in Public Administration from Shippensburg University in 1994.

## Military career

Dailey served over 36 years on active duty in the United States Army, reaching the rank of lieutenant general. He participated in major military operations such as Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Uphold Democracy, Joint Guardian, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.
After the September 11, 2001, attacks, Dailey directed the new Center for Special Operations, the military hub for all counterterrorism – United States Special Operations Command, at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida as well as running special operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. From 2001 to 2003, he headed the Joint Special Operations Command, a United States Special Operations Command sub-unit.

## State Department

Dailey was appointed the Department of State's Coordinator for Counterterrorism on June 22, 2007. In this role he had the title of Ambassador at Large and was charged with coordinating and supporting the development and implementation of U.S. Government policies and programs aimed at countering terrorism overseas. As the principal advisor to the Secretary of State on international counterterrorism matters, he was responsible for taking a leading role in developing coordinated strategies to defeat terrorists abroad and in securing the cooperation of international partners to that end.

## Awards and honors

Dailey was inducted into the U.S. Army Ranger Hall of Fame in 2014.

## Commendations

| Badge | Expert Infantryman Badge | Expert Infantryman Badge | Expert Infantryman Badge | Expert Infantryman Badge | Expert Infantryman Badge | Expert Infantryman Badge | Expert Infantryman Badge | Expert Infantryman Badge | Expert Infantryman Badge | Expert Infantryman Badge | Expert Infantryman Badge | Expert Infantryman Badge |
| Badge | U.S. Army Master Aviator Badge | U.S. Army Master Aviator Badge | U.S. Army Master Aviator Badge | U.S. Army Master Aviator Badge | U.S. Army Master Aviator Badge | U.S. Army Master Aviator Badge | U.S. Army Master Aviator Badge | U.S. Army Master Aviator Badge | U.S. Army Master Aviator Badge | U.S. Army Master Aviator Badge | U.S. Army Master Aviator Badge | U.S. Army Master Aviator Badge |
| 1st row | Defense Superior Service Medal | Defense Superior Service Medal | Defense Superior Service Medal | Defense Superior Service Medal | Defense Superior Service Medal | Defense Superior Service Medal | Legion of Merit | Legion of Merit | Legion of Merit | Legion of Merit | Legion of Merit | Legion of Merit |
| 2nd row | Bronze Star | Bronze Star | Bronze Star | Bronze Star | Meritorious Service Medal with 1 silver Oak leaf cluster (6 awards) | Meritorious Service Medal with 1 silver Oak leaf cluster (6 awards) | Meritorious Service Medal with 1 silver Oak leaf cluster (6 awards) | Meritorious Service Medal with 1 silver Oak leaf cluster (6 awards) | Air Medal | Air Medal | Air Medal | Air Medal |
| 3rd row | Army Commendation Medal with 2 silver Oak leaf clusters (11 awards) | Army Commendation Medal with 2 silver Oak leaf clusters (11 awards) | Army Commendation Medal with 2 silver Oak leaf clusters (11 awards) | Army Commendation Medal with 2 silver Oak leaf clusters (11 awards) | National Defense Service Medal with 1 Service star | National Defense Service Medal with 1 Service star | National Defense Service Medal with 1 Service star | National Defense Service Medal with 1 Service star | Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with 1 bronze Campaign star | Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with 1 bronze Campaign star | Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with 1 bronze Campaign star | Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with 1 bronze Campaign star |
| 4th row | Southwest Asia Service Medal with 4 bronze Campaign stars | Southwest Asia Service Medal with 4 bronze Campaign stars | Southwest Asia Service Medal with 4 bronze Campaign stars | Southwest Asia Service Medal with 4 bronze Campaign stars | Afghanistan Campaign Medal with 1 bronze Campaign star | Afghanistan Campaign Medal with 1 bronze Campaign star | Afghanistan Campaign Medal with 1 bronze Campaign star | Afghanistan Campaign Medal with 1 bronze Campaign star | Iraq Campaign Medal with 2 bronze Campaign stars | Iraq Campaign Medal with 2 bronze Campaign stars | Iraq Campaign Medal with 2 bronze Campaign stars | Iraq Campaign Medal with 2 bronze Campaign stars |
| 5th row | Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal | Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal | Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal | Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal | Global War on Terrorism Service Medal | Global War on Terrorism Service Medal | Global War on Terrorism Service Medal | Global War on Terrorism Service Medal | Army Service Ribbon | Army Service Ribbon | Army Service Ribbon | Army Service Ribbon |
| 6th row | Army Overseas Service Ribbon with award numeral 3 | Army Overseas Service Ribbon with award numeral 3 | Army Overseas Service Ribbon with award numeral 3 | Army Overseas Service Ribbon with award numeral 3 | Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia) | Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia) | Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia) | Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia) | Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait) | Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait) | Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait) | Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait) |
| Badges | Ranger Tab | Ranger Tab | Ranger Tab | Ranger Tab | Master Parachutist Badge | Master Parachutist Badge | Master Parachutist Badge | Master Parachutist Badge | Air Assault Badge | Air Assault Badge | Air Assault Badge | Air Assault Badge |
Other accoutrements :
* Combat Action Badge
* 160th SOAR (A) Distinctive unit insignia
* USASOAC Combat Service Identification Badge
* USSOCOM Shoulder sleeve insignia
* USSOCOM Emblem Badge
* United States Army Staff Identification Badge