Dan F. Shanower
Class of 1979Alumni Recognition Award, 2002
Commander Dan Shanower, U.S. Navy was a varsity soccer player and a graduate of Naperville Central in 1979. He died on that tragic morning of September 11 in the Pentagon. We recognize CDR Shanower for his honor, courage, and memory with this Alumni Award.
CDR Shanower attended Carroll College in Waukesha, Wisconsin and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science in 1983. He also participated in the Washington Semester at American University while he was still a student at Carroll. After graduating from Carroll College, he attended Aviation Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, Florida. He received his commission as an Ensign, U.S. Navy in June 1985. In March of 1986, after attending Armed Forces Air Intelligence Training Course at Lowry AFB, Colorado, he reported to VAQ-136 onboard the U.S.S. Midway as Squadron Intelligence Officer. Two years later, in September, he was assigned as Officer-in-Charge of the Pacific Fleet Area Support Team Detachment, Subic Bay, Philippines. Afterward, he transitioned to the Naval Reserve, serving from August, 1990, to October, 1994, as a Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. State Department in the Philippines.
In November, 1994, CDR Shanower was recalled to active duty and reported to the Navy and Marine Corps Intelligence Training Center as a student. He was assigned to the Joint Intelligence Center, Pacific Detachment Japan in December, 1994, as Operations Support Department Head. In May, 1997, he received orders to join the staff of the Commander, U.S. Third Fleet in San Diego, California, aboard U.S.S. Coronado as the Assistant Intelligence Officer.
In June, 1999, CDR Shanower reported to the Office of Naval Intelligence in Washington D.C. as Fleet Support Department Head. He began graduate work in the Naval War College. In August, 2000, he was selected as the Officer-in-Charge of the Chief of Naval Operations Intelligence Plot. There he was responsible for the provision of current intelligence support to the Navy Secretariat, Chief of Naval Operations staff, and the Director of Naval Intelligence. In December, 2000, he was promoted to his final rank of Commander. CDR Shanower has received professional commendations; some include two Navy Commendation Medals, the Navy Achievement Medal, and the Purple Heart.
Dan was known for his ready smile, terrific sense of humor, love of conversation, ability to tell a story, love of politics, and his intellectual and cultural curiosity about the world. The love he shared with his family, friends, the Navy, and the water will be missed dearly. He also loved to write and in May of 1997, he wrote an article entitled, "Freedom isn’t Free." The article reflected on the loss of four of his shipmates in 1987, and he wrote:
Those of us in the military are expected to make the ultimate sacrifice when called. The military loses scores of personnel each year. Each one risked and lost his or her life in something they believed in, leaving behind family and shipmates to bear the burden and celebrate their devotion to our country… They knew the risks they were taking and gave their lives for something bigger than themselves. CDR SHANOWER’S MESSAGE TO NCHS: Be curious about the world, be ready for fun and adventure, enjoy all people, love your country and believe in something bigger than yourself. Freedom isn’t free.
