Dez C. Keene has served the greater part of his adult life in the U.S. Armed Forces and Public Education. During both enlisted service with the United States Marines and as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army he filled many master trainer roles on the squad, platoon, company, S3 Battalion and G3 Division levels. After leaving active service, Dez became an FAA Certified Flight instructor and flew contract freight service out of Salt Lake International Airport.
In 2002, he became a public school teacher where he taught Earth Systems Science and coached football and Lacrosse.
After serving several years as a staff member at Salt Lake Community College and the completion of a practicum for his Educational Counseling License in a Salt Lake Charter School, Dez became a strong supporter of the Charter School system and model, going on to serve as a teacher, counselor, and administrator in several charter schools located along the Wasatch Front.