Dee Ann Divis

Dee Ann Divis died November 22, 2022 in Arlington, VA. She was born in Lincoln, NE, on December 19 ^th 1959 to Tony and Jane Divis. Dee earned a Bachelor's degree (graduated with Distinction) in business from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and was a Massachusetts Institute of Technology Knight Science Journalism Fellow. Dee spent nearly 40 years in the Washington DC area. She began her career with Third Millennium, an entrepreneur-led company striving to launch the first private renewable space shuttle. She then became an award-winning journalist, newspaper editor and manager, and investigative reporter, working for a number of publications on cutting edge topics ranging from space, technology, and government regulation to business and real estate. She became a recognized specialist in Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and other position, navigation and timing systems (PNT). She covered the policies, emerging technologies, and developments that shaped the future s of these industries - writing concise stories that explained highly-complex topics in simple, understandable ways.

During her prolific career, Dee Ann was most recently the founder and editor of Navigation Outlook, which provided deep, original reporting on GPS and PNT technologies; Editor of The Institute of Navigation (ION) newsletter, covering all aspects of PNT; Freelance reporter for Al Jazeera covering commercial space, space exploration, artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles, robotics, drones and other related areas of technology, policy and markets; Founding Editor of Inside Unmanned Systems, reporting on unmanned technology sectors, government programs, policy issues and technology advances; Contributing Editor for Inside GNSS magazine in which she wrote regularly about navigation-related policy issues impacting satellite systems; Assistant Managing Editor for the Washington Examiner covering news operations for the metropolitan daily newspaper; Fellow for the Institute for Justice and Journalism; Senior Science and Technology Editor for United Press International; Space Section Editor for AviationNow.com, and Editor for Aerospace Daily's Space Business Today (McGraw Hill). Dee Ann's extensive work is easily found with a Google search on her name.

Dee won numerous awards for her writing, including the Robert D.G. Lewis Watchdog Award in 2012, the highest journalistic honor awarded by the Washington, D.C chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. And the Dateline Award for Washington Correspondent twice (2012-2013). She served on the Board of the SPJ D.C. Chapter, and was recently elected President.  She believing deeply in the importance of independent, fact-based journalism, and generous shared her time and experience to inspire and grow other journalists.

Although she loved DC and journalism, Dee's passion was for animals. No bird or squirrel ever went hungry in her yard. She befriended the shyest and most reluctant of stray cats, taking them for any medical care they might need. Over time, among others, this included Thistle, Squeak, Handsome Sam, Sonny, and Luna.   She also enjoyed theatre, particularly Shakespeare; gardens; and antiquing.  She was very proud of her extended family - along with their Czech heritage - and loved kolaches.

Dee was one of those rare people with whom you could have deep life conversations: Why am I here? What should I be doing? What happens next? She frequently sought feedback from colleagues and friends, always striving to an ever-better journalist.  She was the eternal optimist. The glass wasn't just half-full; it was always overflowing. She believed she was capable of doing anything. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

Dee is survived by her parents Tony and Jane Divis of Columbus NE; brother and sister-in-law, Dave and Deborah Divis of Omaha, NE; brother Dean Divis of Glens Falls, NY; nieces and nephews Brielle (Spencer), Basie and Miles Divis of Omaha, NE. Dee will be greatly missed by family, her many friends, and associates she had the pleasure of working with over her successful career.

A vigil for Dee will take place on Friday December 9 ^th , 7:00 pm, at the Mc Kown Funeral Home 2922 13 ^th Street Columbus NE, 68601. The funeral will be December 10 ^th , 10:00 am at Assumption Catholic Church in Appleton NE (1821 38 Rd) about 7 miles northeast of David City.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Alley Cat Allies.

Animal Welfare League of Arlington