In Iraq, Dave met many young men and even young women, who were mailing home the Purple Heart Medals they had received after being injured in combat. Now, American Heroes In Action honors these brave men and women.

In 2001 he joined the AGR full time force as the 1-157th Battalion Training Officer and Fire Direction Officer with a follow-on assignment as Commander of B BTRY 1-157th Field Artillery.  While Commander of B BTRY, he deployed in support of Operation Noble Eagle to Fort Carson.  He was promoted to Major and deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. COL McKee was deployed to Iraq for 16 months.  COL McKee was selected as the Commander of the Operational Mentorship and Liaison Team 3, and deployed the team to Afghanistan from 2011-2012.  He became the 169th Fires BDE Executive Officer upon his return, and promoted to LTC.  COL McKee became Deputy Commander of 89th Troop Command and served as the Deputy Commander over Special Forces, Aviation, Military Police, Infantry and Space Battalions and was selected for the U.S. Army War College.  COL McKee was promoted to the rank of Colonel in the G3 as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations in 2017 where he served for 14 months prior to being assigned to the G1 as Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel. COL McKee graduated from the US Army War College in July of 2019.  He holds a bachelor’s of Arts Degree from the University of Northern Colorado and a Master’s Degree from Webster University and an additional Master’s in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College.

COL McKee is the recipient of several awards, including the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medals, five Army Commendation Medals, the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Air Force Achievement Medal, Six Army Reserve Component Achievement Medals, the National Defense Service Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, Six Armed Forces Reserve Medals with 3 M devices, the NATO Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, three Overseas Service Ribbons, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Iraqi Campaign Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, three Colorado Long Service Medals, the Colorado Achievement Ribbon, three Colorado State Emergency, Service Ribbons, the Colorado Active Service Medal, five Colorado Foreign Deployment Service Ribbons, and the Louisiana Emergency Service Medal. 

Honorable order of Saint Barbara, Honorable & Distinguished order of Saint Martin. COL McKee lives in Greeley with his wife Heather, and daughter Kara, his son Colin is a senor this year at the Citadel in South Carolina. COL McKee has been an instructor for much of his career and he is looking forward to instructing our veterans how to catch fish.

Dave grew up in the violent city of Stockton, California. He had strong men in his life that helped mold him into the focused, hardworking and driven man he would become. His Grandfather, Russell who served in the Army, taught him how to work a cattle ranch and how to fish. Spending time on the ranch was a regular, welcomed escape from life in the city. The most influential male role model was his stepfather Lloyd, also an Army Veteran. Lloyd introduced Dave to deer hunting when Dave was just a young boy. He supported Dave’s decision to join football at age 10 and taught him perseverance to stay the course even when it got tough. Dave’s senior year of high school was very profound.

He felt a calling to “help people who could not help themselves” and volunteered to assist with the special needs program at his school. It would later become his life’s work. He admits that his strong compassion comes from his loving Mother, Robbie. As a star Linebacker on the road to a college football scholarship, he was invited to play in the California All Star football game. Soon after, all his dreams and years of dedication were nearly dashed. He suffered a severe TBI from a motorcycle wreck that left him in a coma for 4 days and he had to learn how to walk again. After a year and a half of recovery, He studied and played football at San Joaquin Delta College and then was recruited to play for Marietta College in Ohio, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology.

In 1998, Dave moved to Colorado and worked at a group home for adults with special needs. At the advice of that organization, he opened his first company Rocky Mountain Community Participation on July 1, 1999 beginning with just 8 clients. In 2008, he renamed his company Encouraging Development and now provides community-based services to over 90 adults with developmental disabilities. He has continuously been the CEO for over 24 years and still works personally with his clients every day. He is also the CEO of a real estate management corporation, Expert Property Management. Hunting, fishing and outdoor activities have always been his escape from the heavy demands of life.

Dave even co-hosted a hunting show on cable television for a short time called Worldwide Hunting Adventures. Teaching his children the values of good sportsmanship, gun safety and providing food for his family has been a profound part of his life. His vast amount of hunting experiences gives him a firsthand knowledge of the logistics, industry standards and practices as well as challenges encountered when hunting in various regions. Serving on the Board of Directors, Dave is planning to help American Heroes in Action give back to more veterans and first responders.