The friendly demeanor of Steve Dolan, Germantown Academy's first Director of Security, is truly genuine. In his signature red security shirt, GA cap, and yellow vest, Dolan's cheerful greeting of every Patriot he passes, from toddlers about to begin an exciting day in the Child Care Center to seasoned teachers about to embark on a new unit in their classroom, belies the serious nature of his position on campus. Yet the two sides seem to have meshed well with Dolan, as this June, after two-plus decades of incredible work securing our 126-acre campus with a smile, he will hang up that vest, put away his bullhorn, turn off his walkie talkie, and retire from Germantown Academy.

"As our founding Director of Security, Steve’s ever-present smile, thoroughness, and diligence have established his team as the envy of independent schools everywhere,” said Head of School Rich Schellhas 1760. “During our most recent school accreditation, Steve’s department was highlighted as a core strength of the Academy, and other schools regularly inquire into how we have built such a dynamic security program - all credit to Steve and his dedicated team! Steve has never been ‘just’ our Security Director, however. Parent to a GA alum and a GA teacher, multi-season coach, and international trip chaperone extraordinaire, Steve’s imprint on life at GA has been as impressive as it is wide-reaching. While we know his retirement will be rich with travel, adventure, and grandparenting, we know his GA roots are deep and look forward to seeing him for many years to come on our campus.”

Dolan’s background includes serving as a fire marshal in East Norriton Township and Whitpain Township, and as a police officer in the Whitemarsh Township Police Department from 1991-2012, retiring with the rank of Corporal. Dolan also served in the U.S. Air Force for four years. Dolan is officially a USAF Fire Protection Specialist and Crash Rescue Specialist, an Emergency Medical Technician, an advanced hostage negotiator, and a fire arson investigator. He earned numerous honors while serving with the Whitemarsh Police, including a Valor Award when he captured and disarmed an armed bank robber.

Dolan brought his skills and positive outlook on life to GA in the winter of 1996 as a part-time security guard. In fact, his first assignment was to help with crowd control the night a Lower Merion High School player named Kobe Bryant came to campus to take on the Patriots.

“Jim Connor and Jim Fenerty needed some help with the crowd,” recalls Dolan.” “It was the biggest crowd ever in the Big Gym.”

Dolan was named the school’s first Security Coordinator in 1999. Since then, he became more involved in the daily operations of the school and went on to build a first-class security department and program from the ground up that has greatly benefited the entire GA community.

“We had very few facets of what you see today in security when I started working out of the lost and found room in the old Upper School,” said Dolan. “Long-timers will remember – it was across from the world map that was on the hallway wall.”

Some of Dolan’s accomplishments at GA include the creation of emergency plans, the swipe card system, the camera system, the radio system, the lightning alert system, reserved parking spaces, traffic control, crosswalks and sidewalks, panic alarms, fire extinguishers, inspections, drills, exterior lights, emergency lights, first aid trauma bags, and Automated External Defibrillator (AEDs) with the help of nurse Lori Andress ’88. He also recently orchestrated a 40-hour School Resource Officer (SRO) Certification class for the security team, which currently consists of 40 full and part-time men and women.

In addition to serving as team leader of GA’s Safe to Say Something program and GA’s Safety Committee, Dolan also found time to coach Middle and Upper School soccer and basketball, serve as the varsity football team photographer, lead an Upper School exchange trip to London, chaperone the varsity girls’ basketball trip to New Orleans, and help out with Summer Programs’ “The Cathedrals of Baseball Tour” along with Tim Ginter.

While Dolan’s adventures have taken him abroad and across these United States, the best part of his career was having the chance to interact with young citizens of the world on a daily basis.

“The best honor is hearing the tiny voices of the kids in the Child Care Center and the Lower School who say, ‘Good Morning, Mr. Dolan’ as they drive by me in their car or use the crosswalk with their parent,” said Dolan. "I will definitely keep those memories with me."