Merrily Dente Madero

Colonel Merrily Dente Madero graduated from Michigan Tech in 1985 with her BS in Mechanical Engineering. Following her Tech graduation, she went on to earn four additional degrees, including a master’s in personnel management from Troy State Alabama (1989), a
master’s in military science from Air University (1996), a master’s in national resource strategy from National Defense University (2003), and a bachelor’s in theology from Life Christian University (2008).

As a Tech student, Madero remembers Captain Andy Busch (who retired a lieutenant general) from the US Air Force (USAF) Reserve Officer Training Corp (ROTC) program. Though her experiences at Tech, she learned how to prepare for any career situation and solve complex problems. In addition to being involved in USAF ROTC, she was on the Michigan Tech Sky Diving team and a member of Alpha Gamma Delta. Through USAF ROTC, Madero commissioned as a second lieutenant at her Tech graduation and soon entered the USAF.

Madero initially served as an acquisition officer before cross-training into the communications, cyber and space areas. While in the USAF, Madero commanded four large
organizations at the squadron, group, and wing vice levels, and deployed to three different combat zones. She served as the joint task force deputy director of communications for both US and United Nations forces for Operation Uphold Democracy in Haiti, commanded the 380th Expeditionary Mission Support Group, which supported Operations Enduring Freedom and
Iraqi Freedom, at Abu Dhabi Air Base UAE, and served as deputy military liaison for the Commander, International Security Assistance Force at the US Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan. For her efforts during attacks on the US Embassy in Kabul, she received the Bronze Star
Medal, and she was the first colonel to receive the US State Departments’ Meritorious Honor Award.

Madero’s other accomplishments include four Legion of Merits Medals, five Defense and USAF Meritorious Service Medals, three Joint and USAF Service Commendation Medals and two Joint and USAF Achievement Medals, and many more. Additionally, she earned the Master Cyber Wings, Master Space Wings, and Parachutist badge.

Madero was inducted into Michigan Tech’s Presidential Council of Alumnae in 2007. After a successful 30-year USAF career, Colonel Madero retired in 2015.

Currently, Madero is the founder and president of Merrily Madero Ministries (M3 International), a non-profit Christian missionary organization, established in 2017. She is also an ordained minister through the Assemblies of God.

Madero now uses all her leadership and management experience from her time in the USAF to teach and train leaders in developing nations for free. Through M3 International, she has conducted leadership development and ministry in 23 countries and traveled to 118 countries around the world.

In the next year through M3 International, Madero will return to Vietnam for her 10th time, to teach leadership and management at several universities. She will also return to Singapore for her 10th visit to preach and provide conflict training. She will return to Mongolia for her second time to teach leadership team building at the Mongolian AG Bible School. Madero will also return to Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates for the third time to provide leadership development and conflict management training for pastors and leaders. Madero also routinely teaches and preaches in Michigan and several other US locations.

Madero is the author of “The Truth About Consequences,” which has also been translated and published in Urdu. She’s a contributing author for “Kingdom Chronicles, Tales of Guts, Glory, and Spiritual Authority.” She was also the co-author of “Alternate Futures,” through Air University press, while serving in the USAF.

Madero is happily married to Joël Casse from Québec City, Canada, and they split their time between their permanent residence in St. Helen, Michigan, Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Québec City, Canada. Madero’s daughter, Dr. Leia Fecteau, M.D., is now chief resident for an emergency medicine and internal medicine residency in New York City.

Updated April 2025