Meet Dan Short

Military Experience

Dan retired from military service with a combined service time of 21.5 years between the US Marine Corps and the Army National Guard. During his time serving his country, Dan deployed 3 times for a combined total of 25 months of overseas service. Twice, he was deployed to the South Pacific during peacetime with the Marines as the forward operating force. He was a member of Weapons Company 1st Battalion 5th Marines where he served as the Forward Observer Squad Leader as well as a marksmanship instructor. Dan also volunteered for a combat tour of duty in Iraq while in the Army National Guard. He served as a Personal Security Detail Squad Leader with the 49th Military Police Brigade. 

Before the end of his career, Dan would serve in rolls up to being a Platoon Sergeant of Military Police Platoons. This typically consisted of 50 soldiers working under his leadership, but there were times the platoon strength would exceed 70. 

Serving the country is something that runs deep in Dan’s family. His father served in the Air Force in Vietnam, his paternal grandfather served in WWII and Korea, maternal grandfather served in WWII, a great uncle was killed in action in the South Pacific during WWII, and another great uncle took part in the battle of Pearl Harbor on Dec 07, 1941. Numerous other relatives served in the military during war years as well.

School Resource Officer & Community Involvement

While assigned as a School Resource Officer, Dan has made  a conscious effort to be involved with the students. He donated several rabbits to the agricultural class so they would be able to begin their breeding program and learn about caring for and raising rabbits. This would also make some rabbits available for students to use to enter the 4H program that may not have been able to otherwise. 

Dan also started a trap shooting team at South Knox that was a huge success. He successfully wrote a grant to the National Rifle Association that gave the trap team the needed guns, ammunition and safety equipment to get started. Our first year was a success, Terry and Laura Turner were the coaching staff, and once the team was up and running, they raised a considerable amount of money to keep it going. This program is still taking place. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first shooting team of its kind in Knox County.

Dan also presented the idea to South Knox of having a “Paint a mural in the SRO office” competition when he first began working at South Knox. It was a huge success, art work was selected and the SRO office now has a wonderful mural, painted by a former student, that shows the tight relationship between the School Resource Officer and the South Knox Spartans!

Dan is also a licensed HAM radio operator and an active member of the local HAM radio operator club. HAM radio operators have proven time and time again to be instrumental force multipliers during major catastrophes that take down normal modes of communication. This gives Dan great insight on how these resources can be utilized and who needs to be contacted to get them online should we need them. This HAM certification, as well as numerous training course through FEMA, as well as a great working relationship with the local EMA director, a solid base of knowledge to make him an asset to the community.

Dan is also an active member of the local Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), that assists the local Helping His Hands Disaster Response, with recovery and response services in the wake of tragedies such as tornadoes, earthquakes and so forth. This is a volunteer position that Dan participates with, and most recently, he responded to Benton, Kentucky to assist after the devastating tornado this past December. 

Dan also volunteers his time to serve as a member of the Knox County 4H council.