U.S. Navy Veteran, community change agent, veteran advocate, mother of two, and CEO of D-DEY Response Group, Cecilia Deyo was born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas. At the age of 19, she began her eight year tenure with the U.S. Navy that included an Iraq War deployment, the awarding of Sailor of the Year, multiple awards, honors, and commendations, and an honorable discharge in 2009.
During Cecilia’s Navy deployment, she met Don Deyo, a US Army Special Forces operator and first responder. After her separation from military service, they married and soon added to their blended family with the arrivals of their children, Daniel and Madeleine. “Team Deyo” as Cecilia refers to them includes Cynnamon and DJ Deyo, Don’s two older children.
With the help of her mentors, Cecilia established D-DEY Response Group in 2014 in the kitchen of her home as a stay-at-home mom and full-time student at Florida Atlantic University. From humble beginnings, D-DEY has doubled in revenue nearly every year since its inception and has grown to be an elite force in crisis training.
Cecilia’s vision for D-DEY was twofold – to create value-focused careers for members of her beloved veteran community and to empower and prepare students to become potential heroes in an emergency.
Helping fellow citizens and first responders throughout the nation overcome living life in fear through training and preparedness is one of the greatest responsibilities to have. D-Dey is proud to provide a program that allows others to save and respond to a life in need while building confidence and empowerment in its clients.
As D-Dey has grown, so has Cecilia’s drive to expand the company’s footprint. In 2018, she founded D-Dey Relief Corp, serving as the president of this not-for-profit organization that was dedicated to sending medical aid and security teams to areas devastated by natural disasters during Hurricane Dorian. In 2020, she established two more companies with the founding of D-DEY Offshore and D-DEY Tactical.
Cecilia’s compassion extends beyond D-Dey. Since 2010 she has dedicated herself to other business, community and non-profit activities. They include: FAU Entrepreneur Bootcamp 2014, Junior League of Martin County 2010-2018 Active Member, Junior League of Martin County 2019 Sustainer, Impact 100 Martin County 2018 – present, Freedom Fighter Outdoors Volunteer 2016-2017 and Freedom Fighter Outdoors Board 2018-Present.
