Dean Rice, is a communication strategist with 25 years of implementing communication roadmaps at the federal, state and local levels, as well as within the private business development sector.Dean served as chief of staff to Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett throughout Mayor Burchett's two terms in office. He is a global security fellow with the UT Institute for Nuclear Security and an adjunct faculty member at the University of Tennessee’s College of Communication and Information. He has spent the past 25 plus years moving between federal legislative positions, political consulting and teaching. As a legislative aide for both the United States Senate and the House of Representatives, Rice focused on issues relating to energy, science & technology and national defense.His interests include the promotion of civility, civil rights, inclusion, global security and democratic development and sustainability in transitional societies. In 2013, Rice received the Society of Universal Dialogue’s Atlantic Institute "Peace Award" in recognition of his efforts to promote inter-cultural engagement and dialogue. Dean is an avid cultural photographer having traveled to over 20 countries. He is also an acrylic painter and has had multiple public exhibitions of his photography and painted works. He is the father of twin daughters, married to Dr. Natalie Manaeva Rice and currently lives in Knoxville, TN.