Meet Denis Oliverio – Marine Corps veteran, Purple Heart recipient, and Precise Systems’ employee spotlight for August 2025. Â
Each year, August 7th is observed as National Purple Heart Day. This day remembers and honors the courageous men and women who have been wounded or killed in action while defending our freedoms. One of our very own, Denis Oliverio, is one of these heroes.
From a young age, he knew that the Marine Corps was the only option for him. Denis always had a firm belief in military service, something he got from his mother, as she watched many of her friends deploy and serve their country. He still carries with him the leadership, discipline, attention to detail, and selfless service to others the Marine Corps instilled in him from the very beginning, and he makes it his daily goal to live up to that same ethos.
Denis received the Purple Heart for the severe wounds he sustained during a combat mission. This profound honor is not one that he takes lightly, knowing that there are many recipients of this medal who never get to see it because they paid the ultimate price for our freedom. He says, “I was very lucky, but others weren’t. I never lose sight of that.”
His story reached the desk of former president George W. Bush and left an indelible impact. You can find Denis’s portrait and story of bravery included in the book Portraits of Courage: A Commander in Chief’s Tribute to America’s Warriors, as well as in the traveling art exhibition currently on display in the Epcot Center in Florida.
He now takes the adversity he gained through that experience and his time in service and applies it to his own approach for leadership and teamwork at our organization. He explains that adversity helps you focus on what is important and requires you to do what needs to be done, no matter how difficult. It also teaches you to utilize the individual strengths of your team and allows them to perform to their fullest. Being resourceful and resilient create strong leaders and teams – attributes he carries with him in his role each day.
Denis’s last assignment in uniform was on the 53K Systems Engineering team at PMA-261. He had the opportunity to work closely with the Precise CSS team, including Scott Pfister, and had the opportunity to learn the Precise culture early on. He was quickly drawn to the core values of “Putting People First” and “Delighting the Customer” and knew that he had found the perfect fit.
For any veterans currently transitioning into civilian careers, he would tell them to continue utilizing all the tools the military has provided, as they are extremely valuable and will serve them well. Denis explains, “Keep your military pride, and never forget the importance of communication and attitude. Stay connected and remember – it’s all about relationships!”
While his time in the Marine Corps brought many challenges, it also gave him many memories he will cherish forever. One of his best memories is watching his Marines come home after his last deployment. When he had to be medevac’d due to his injuries, he worried about them constantly. As their leader, he hated to be taken away from them and not be able to be there for them or look after them, especially in conflict.
When the time came, though, Denis was allowed to leave Bethesda National Naval Medical Center and travel to Twenty-Nine Palms to be there when his platoon got off the bus. He describes this moment as the highlight of his career – being able to see them all come home.
There is nothing we can ever do to repay Denis and the numerous other men and women who have fought so hard for our nation, but we forever owe them our debt of gratitude. We recognize you all today and thank you for your selfless and courageous service. You are the heroes we honor today and every day!