Dean grew up in Carson City, Nevada, with five brothers and sisters. He began working in his father’s auto shop in middle school, and there he learned the importance of hard work, discipline, and commitment – Western values that continue to guide him today.

Those values helped Dean accomplish his dream of graduating from the University of Southern California, in 1985, and he was later recognized with the Distinguished USC Alumni Award in 2012.

His time at the USC Marshall School of Business prepared him to work as a broker on the Pacific Stock Exchange and then as an institutional equities trader. Dean then served as a banking Municipal Finance Representative before he started his long political career.

Dean was sworn into the United States Senate on May 9, 2011. Prior to his service in the Senate, Dean was the Representative for Nevada’s Second Congressional District and also served as Nevada’s Secretary of State and in the Nevada State Assembly representing Carson City.

During his time in the Senate, Dean served on the Finance Committee, Banking Committee, Veterans’ Affairs Committee, and Commerce Committee. Dean’s service on these committees allowed him to address the housing crisis, stand up for the more than 20 million veterans that have served our country, ensure that our transportation needs were met, and write tax policy that allowed for economic growth and opportunity for all Americans.

Dean and his wife Lynne have been married for more than 30 years and currently reside in Smith Valley, Nevada. They have four children, Hilary, Harris, Drew, and Emmy – and they are the proud grandparents of Brielle, Zachary, and Ava. Dean is a former stock car racer and the Hellers enjoy camping, hunting, and horse packing in the beautiful Sierra Nevada Mountains.