Dean C. Crepes is the Executive Director of the Celebrate Freedom Foundation.

Born and raised in Leesville, SC on a farm and attended Batesburg-Leesville Schools. Upon graduation from high school, he attended Newberry College and majored in Mathematics.

Upon Graduation in May 1980, he was sworn into the USMC as a Second Lieutenant. In June of 1980 he reported to Quantico, VA for 5 months of TBS (The Basic School) which was a requirement for all young aspiring officers. In January of 1981 he reported to Pensacola, Florida and began Naval flight training. He flew the T-34C, Turbo Mentor, and H-57, Jet Ranger, TH-1l and UH-1E Huey helicopters. After receiving his Naval Wings, he reported to HMT-204 M.C.A.S New River, Jackson, North Carolina where he became qualified in the CH-53D then reported to HMH-362, Ugly Angels, for his first operational squadron. During his time, he was deployed not only across the US from California but saw numerous deployments aboard a ship from Norway to the Caribbean Sea, basically anywhere in North Atlantic. 1989 saw a change of uniform when he transferred to the U.S. Navy and was stationed at N.A.S Norfolk, VA and reported to HM-18 Norsemen, a Mine counter measure and assault support squadron flying the MH-53D. His final unit and retirement from the military was with TACGRU-2 (Tactical Air Control Group 2) which was involved with preparing and deploying air support and control needed, whether ship or land based.

Recently Dean retired from Lexington County, SC where he was Director of Voter Registration and Elections where he oversaw all elections, municipal to Presidential. He joined CFF in the summer of 2019.

Dean is married to Theresa who is V.P. Accounting and Finance with Mid-Carolina Electric Cooperative. He has two children, Amanda and Dennis. Currently Dean resides on the farm where he lived during his childhood, and yes, he still loves to play in the dirt.