Dorsey Read Rodney was born on June 11, 1880. He graduated from West Point in 1903 and served in a variety of positions in the military, achieving the rank of Colonel. From 1930 to 1935, and again from 1943 to 1944, he served at Michigan State University as the head of the Military Science Program on assignment from the U.S. Army. Upon retiring from active duty, Reed was asked by MSU to remain on staff as assistant to the president. In 1944, he was appointed as the first dean of Michigan State University’s School of Business and Public Service, retiring in 1949. After retiring, he worked with several volunteer committees such as Boy Scouts of America and the Red Cross. Rodney died on January 7, 1970 and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.