Lieutenant Colonel Dunning was born at Ft. Campbell, KY. He arrived at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, SC yellow footprints on 11 May 1989 and graduated boot camp on 4 August 1989. He subsequently attended Marine Corps Cannon Crewman Course at Ft. Sill, OK then joined Battery M, 14th Marines, 4th Marine Division in Chattanooga, TN as a 0811 Cannon Crewman. As an enlisted Marine he served on M101A1 Towed 105mm howitzers, M109 155mm Self Propelled howitzers, and M198 Towed 155mm howitzers in all crew positions to include Section Chief. During this time he graduated from Covenant College on Lookout Mountain, GA with a degree in History.
Sergeant Dunning attended Officer Candidate School in 1995 and The Basic School in 1995. Upon graduation from The Basic School he received the MOS of 0802 Field Artillery Officer and attended the Field Artillery Officer Basic Course at Ft. Sill, OK. After graduation, 2nd Lieutenant Dunning reported to 3rd Battalion, 10th Marines (3/10), 2nd Marine Division in 1996 where he served as a Forward Observer. After promotion to 1st Lieutenant he served as Battery Liaison Officer, Assistant Executive Officer, and Fire Direction Officer for Battery K. Battery K joined Battalion Landing Team 3/2 (BLT 3/2), 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (26th MEU) in 1998 where he served as the Fire Support Coordinator for the BLT. Upon completion of the 26th MEU deployment he served as the Battalion Fire Direction Officer and Battalion Operations Officer for 3/10 until May 1999. He was promoted to the rank of Captain on his last day with 3/10.
Captain Dunning was then selected for the Marine Corps Supplementary MOS Program and attended the Adjutants Course at Camp Johnson, NC during May of 1999 where he received the supplementary MOS of 0180 Adjutant. He was then assigned as the Adjutant for 6th Marine Corps Recruiting District Headquarters, Eastern Recruiting Region, Parris Island, SC where he served until May 2002. Upon completion of his tour as an Adjutant Captain Dunning was selected to attend Field Artillery Captains Career Course at Ft. Sill, OK. Then he was assigned to 5th Battalion, 11th Marines (5/11), 1st Marine Division where he served as the Battalion Fire Support Coordinator during Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, then as the Battery Commander for Battery T, the Battalion Operations Officer, and the Battalion Executive Officer. He was promoted to the rank of Major during 2005 and executed a second deployment to Operation IRAQI FREEDOM as the Ground Watch Officer for 1st Marine Expeditionary Force Forward Multi-National Force West (MNF West) flattened staff.
In 2006, upon return from Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, Major Dunning was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 14th Marines in Philadelphia, PA where he served as the Assistant Battalion Inspector Instructor until 2009. From 2009 to 2010 Major Dunning attended Marine Corps Command and Staff College Resident Course in Quantico, VA. After graduation Major Dunning was assigned to 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force (III MEF) where he served as the III MEF Targeting Information Officer and the III MEF Current Fires Officer. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel during June of 2011 and departed III MEF in 2013.
Lieutenant Colonel Dunning reported to Marine Corps Tactics and Operations Group (MCTOG) in 29 Palms, CA during 2013 where he served as the Exercise Control Officer and the Officer in Charge of the Fires Division until 2016. During 2016 he reported to Marine Air Ground Task Force Training Center (MAGTFTC)/ Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center (MCAGCC) 29 Palms, CA where he served as the MAGTFTC Large Scale Exercise Lead Planner and the Officer in Charge of Operations and Training for the Combat Center until 2019.
During 2019 Lieutenant Colonel Dunning reported to Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, SC where he served as the Depot Operations Officer for the Operations Division until assigned duty as the 2nd Recruit Training Battalion (2nd RTBN) Commanding Officer on 13 December 2021. During July 2022 Lieutenant Colonel Dunning was reassigned to his current duty as the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island Headquarters and Service Battalion Commanding Officer.