David H. Dentino, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Housing and Partnerships assumed his role in the spring of 2024, and on July 18, paid his first visit to Fort Belvoir, Virginia, to discuss housing, partnerships and what the Army is doing to elevate the quality of life for Families.
His first visit was with privatized housing managers The Michaels Organization, which owns and maintains more than 2,200 homes on the installation spread across 15 separate Villages. Stopping at the Visitor’s Welcome Center, Secretary Dentino noted how Fort Belvoir’s Main Street complex utilized mixed-use housing, with shops and offices on the first floor, and second story apartments above. Dentino noted that Gen. Randy George, Army Chief of Staff had told him he would like to see more of that design as Army housing is upgraded.
The Michaels team explained what is ahead with Young Village, the next big housing project, expected to begin construction in the third or fourth quarter of this year. Young Village will create 200 townhomes just a block away from the Commissary and Post Exchange, and two blocks from Fort Belvoir Elementary School.
Matthew Conlan, Chief of Garrison’s Housing Division for Directorate of Public Works, said that the Army and the privatized housing partners have a united focus on Family welfare.
“Our goal is to get Families into quality housing, so the relationship between the Garrison and our Residential Community Partner is quite collaborative,” Conlan said.
Dentino said his first visit was enlightening.
“It’s a beautiful installation. I think the Garrison obviously takes great care of all the soldiers that live, work and play on Fort Belvoir,” he said.
After a windshield tour through several villages, and the future site of Young Village, Dentino attended the Michaels Organization Educational Foundation Scholarships Award Luncheon, where the housing partners awarded more than $437,000 to 47 community residents pursuing higher education at accredited universities, colleges or vocational training programs across the nation, according to The Michaels Organization.
Col David Stewart, Fort Belvoir Garrison commander, said this was about much more than awards.
“It is a testament to community, and our commitment to supporting families, showing that when we invest in their educational dreams, we strengthen the very foundation of this nation,” Stewart said. He issued a challenge for each of them:
“[T]urn that promise into purpose - use this opportunity to lead boldly, serve others selflessly, and pursue excellence relentlessly,” said Stewart. “Your journey doesn’t end with this award—it begins here. Go forward and make a difference—not just for yourself, but for those who will follow in your footsteps.”
Dentino, whose life’s work is engineering, advised that the real value of education is learning the process of research and finding out things you don’t know.
“Find out how to apply the things that you do now, and then get to a solution, because that is something that never ends; you try and make decisions with imperfect information,” Dentino said. “Learn the process piece of this as much as you learn practical application of your studies.
“We all need to make sure that Families can come home and play hard and have a great location which to do it. I think the Michaels Organization and the partnerships they provide allow that to happen.”
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