Dennis Emile Saulnier, 49, an employee of the Department of Defense at the Pentagon, died Saturday, March 22, at Inova Alexandria Hospital in Alexandria, Va. The family will receive friends on Thursday, March 27, 2008, and Friday, March 28, 2008, at the DeMaine Funeral Home, 520 S. Washington St., Alexandria, Va., from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. both days. The funeral service will be at Fort Myer Old Post Chapel on Monday, June 2, 2008, at 8:45 a.m. followed by interment with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery.

Dennis was born in Plainfield, N.J., and attended Colonia High School, Colonia, N.J., before enlisting in the U.S. Air Force in 1978. He earned a bachelor of science in management from National-Lewis University.

In a long, distinguished military career, Dennis served in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm before being assigned to the Pentagon in 1999.

Achieving the rank of chief master sergeant, Dennis worked for Secretaries of Defense William Cohen and Donald Rumsfeld. He was at his post Sept. 11, 2001, during the attack on the Pentagon and remained there well after building evacuations.

Upon his military retirement in 2002, Dennis began his second career as a civil servant working at the Pentagon. He was a tireless worker. Upon his death, he was serving as Director, DoD Executive Secretary Services.

He was predeceased by his beloved parents, Emile and Jeannette Saulnier of Iselin, N.J., and his little sister, Jeannine Saulnier. Surviving Dennis are his beloved brothers, Kenneth, Gerald and Ronald. He is also survived by his beloved sister, Elaine Rusche. Dennis was a cherished uncle to 10 nieces and nephews as well as five grand-nieces and grandnephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are encouraged and may be made to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 4002018, Des Moines, Iowa, 50340.

Published in the Star-Ledger on 3/27/2008.