Colonel Dunahoe was born 23 December 1960 in Corpus Christi, Texas to Chief Warrant Officer 3 and Mrs. E.L. Dunahoe, USCG (Ret.).  He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant upon graduation from the Virginia Military Institute in May 1983 and upon completion of The Basic School and the Infantry Officer Course he reported to the 1st Battalion, 8th Marines.  There he served as a Rifle Platoon Commander, Company Executive Officer, and Rifle Company Commander for Company C from February 1984 through March of 1987.

In March 1987 1st Lieutenant Dunahoe was transferred to Landing Force Training Command, Atlantic, where he served as the Headquarters Company Commander and subsequently as an Instructor in the Tactical Training Branch.
Following graduation from the Amphibious Warfare School in May 1991, he reported to the 1st Battalion, 1st Marines where he served as the Assistant Operations Officer from May 1991 through August 1992.  During this period he deployed to the Western Pacific, Indian Ocean, and Persian Gulf as part of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable).  In August of 1992, Captain Dunahoe assumed command of Company B and subsequently deployed with his Battalion to Okinawa, Japan as part of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable).

Returning to the United States and relinquishing command in June 1994, Captain Dunahoe transferred to Quantico, Virginia where he was assigned to the Counter Drug Section, Coalition and Special Warfare Division (CSW), Marine Corps Combat Development Command.  During his tour there, he participated in numerous counter- narcotics missions in Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia in support of Operation LASER STRIKE and was the Assistant Officer-in-Charge of Mobile Training Team (MTT) GUERRERO working with the Colombian Ant-Narcotics Police.  Remaining at Quantico, Major Dunahoe attended the Marine Corps Command and Staff College from 1997 through 1998 where he received his Master of Military Studies Degree.

Following graduation, he was ordered back to Camp Lejeune, where he was assigned to G-3, II Marine Expeditionary Force. In February 1999, Major Dunahoe was ordered to report to Joint Task Force Noble Anvil, headquartered in Naples, Italy.  Assigned to the J-5 Directorate, he participated in both Operations ALLIED FORCE and SHINING HOPE.  He was subsequently assigned to Task Force Falcon in Kosovo where he participated in Operation JOINT GUARDIAN. Returning to II MEF in July 1999, he was reassigned as the Maritime Prepositioning Force Plans Officer.

Lieutenant Colonel Dunahoe reported to 2d Marine Division in June 2000 where he served as the Executive Officer for the 6th Marine Regiment until June 2002.  He assumed his duties as Commanding Officer, Third Battalion, Second Marines in June of 2002. In January 2003 he deployed with his battalion to the Persian Gulf and participated in Operation IRAQI FREEDOM through June 2003.  Returning to the United States in June, he and the battalion were assigned to the 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade (Anti-Terrorism) from October 2003 through July 2004.

During Academic Year 2004-2005, Lieutenant Colonel Dunahoe attended the Marine Corps War College where he received his Master of Strategic Studies Degree and was the Distinguished Graduate in his class.  Assigned to Headquarters Marine Corps upon completion of the War College, he served as the Head of the Joint Staff Branch within the Plans, Policies, and Operations Directorate until June 2006. Selected for command, Colonel Dunahoe served as Commanding Officer of the 24th Marine Regiment from July of 2006 through June 2008.

His personal decorations include the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal with the combat distinguishing device (Combat “V”), the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with three gold stars in lieu of second, third, and fourth awards, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with gold star in lieu of second award, the Army, Navy and Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Achievement Medals, and the Combat Action Ribbon with gold star in lieu of second award.  Colonel Dunahoe was also the recipient of the 1997 National Defense Industrial Association Special Operations Achievement Award.