Dunning, Zoe, CDR, USNR (Ret.)

Commander Zoe Dunning served on the SLDN board from 1993 until 2000, and re-joined the board in 2005.

In January 1993, Dunning, then a lieutenant in the U.S. Naval Reserve, was a second-year student at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. Appearing at a rally at California's Moffett Field, Dunning publicly declared herself a lesbian. The following week she was informed that discharge proceedings would be brought against her. Dunning won her subsequent battle to remain in the Naval Reserves. The Navy has promoted her twice since she came out - once while she was still fighting to remain in the reserve - and she now holds the rank of commander. She also holds the distinction of being the only openly gay member of the U.S.

In addition to her Naval Reserve duties, Dunning is a principal in Dunning Consulting, where she focuses on training and executive coaching for small and medium-sized businesses. A United States Naval Academy graduate, Dunning also received her MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business. She also currently serves as Vice President of USNA Out, a national organization of LGBT naval academy graduates.