Dana currently serves as Chief Operating Officer of K-9 Solutions International, inc. She specializes in the assessment of global K-9 operations as well as in the development and implementation of K-9 solutions to ensure the company’s clients have the most efficicient and effective K-9 capacity possible. Her razor-sharp intellect, international expertise, and extensive background give her a cutting edge as she is beyond familiar with operating and training in the most rigorous of areas.
Dana also serves as CEO/President of K9 Pipeline Leak Detection Services International. As a nationally certified K9 Pipeline leak detection technician, she can advise oil companies of the best course of action to detect leaks in any pressurized line, and deploy qualified K9 pipeline leak detection teams to detect the source of the pressure leak. K9 pipeline leak detection is proud to offer a one-hundred percent success rating in leak detection.
Moreover, Dana currently serves as CEO/President of Tandem K9 Inc. where she provides full-service dog training to the community, as well as to civilian law enforcement agencies. As the full-time head trainer at Tandem K9 and certified Police Utility/Patrol, Narcotics and Explosive Detection Trainer with Professional Canine Services under the authority of the Virginia Police Canine Association, Dana specializes in evaluating, assessing, and correcting various behavioral problems in canines; explosives and narcotics detection; tracking; and protection and bite-work training. With Tandem K9, she has led basic police canine handler courses with Professional Canine Services for both patrol narcotics and patrol explosives teams, and she has trained and prepared over one hundred and fifty police canines at various agencies for re-certification in either patrol narcotics or patrol explosives.
It all started at the age of nine, as Dana was an accomplished exhibitor and handler in Junior Showmanship at the AKC conformation shows. In addition to Junior Showmanship, she showed dogs from her family kennel, Miklyns Dachshunds, as well as for other kennels who hired her to do so. Her passion for canine training only grew from there; she has dedicated her life to mastering and improving canine training standards both nationally and internationally. Her training philosophy is to develop confident dogs and handlers through balanced training techniques, which develops mutual respect rather than fear and intimidation.
Dana has spent over 26 years in the K9 Services industry, in both foreign and domestic sectors. Prior to leading Tandem K9 full-time, she operated as the Director of K9 Operations in Iraq for the largest International K9 Servicing Company. With full support from the company’s U.S.-based Corporate Management Team, Dana led the Iraq-based Program Management Team (PMT) and held full authority to dedicate in-country manpower and operational resources to ensure successful delivery of services. In this position she controlled operations for over 267 multinational dual and single purpose explosive detector dog teams working on both government and commercial contracts in Iraq. As head of PMT, Dana planned and controlled the annual budget with 100% accountability of all assigned assets. She provided program oversight and subject matter expertise to in-country canine teams and ensured that program policies, as well as training standards and guidelines, were followed through effectively.
In addition to her civilian work in the K9 Services industry, Dana honorably served 16 years in the United States Marine Corps as a Staff Sergeant and Military Police Officer on Marine Corps bases Quantico, Virginia, and Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. She has operated as Kennel Master, Trainer, K9 Handler, Special Reaction Team Member, Non-Lethal Weapons Instructor, Recruiter, and Watch Commander. Dana was top of her class as the Honor Graduate of the Military Working Dog (MWD) Handler and Detector Dog course at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas. Upon completion of this course, she went on to become Military Police K9 Handler where she trained and prepared both Patrol Narcotic and Patrol Explosive K9s. During this time, Dana was sent on various missions in support of the President of the United States. She was then assigned as the Chief Trainer at her kennels in Quantico, and then promoted to Kennel Master of the Security Battalion K9 section where she successfully trained, certified, and employed MWD teams on Military Police operations, various domestic threats, and Presidential and VIP support missions around the world. Additionally, Dana spent five years training with Secret Service K9, Pentagon Police K9, FBI K9, and numerous law enforcement agencies in and around the DC area.
After 9/11 Dana’s skills and qualifications made her pivotal in the development and deployment of MWD teams on deployments in support of combat operations during Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). During this time, she operated as Regional Kennel Master for Task Force MP in Al Asad, Iraq. Dana was directly responsible for the training, assignment, and deployment of 38 joint forces Explosive Detection Dog (EDD) teams and 1 Marine Drug Detector Dog (DDD) team from Camp Pendleton, CA. Once in Iraq, she was responsible for 86 joint forces EDD teams and 1 DDD team that were positioned through the Al Anbar Province. She advised combat units of the capability of her assigned EDD and DDD teams, approved appointment of missions, and reviewed all after action reports. Further, she ensured the health and welfare of all assigned EDD and DDD teams to ensure they were not overworked in the extreme conditions or asked to go beyond their capabilities.
From her prestigious work in the USMC, Dana was awarded various decorations including the Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation, National Defense Medal, Good Conduct Medal, and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. Dana holds an associate’s degree of General Studies from Central Texas College, and a bachelor’s degree of Science and Physical Education from Eastern Oregon University. She is currently apprenticing under a Senior Master Trainer with Professional K9 Services and the Virginia Police Canine Association for her civilian Master Trainer Certification
