Dr. Gary Deel is an accomplished polymath with a talent for higher education and a drive for intellectual challenge.

With respect to education, Gary holds AS Degrees in Hospitality and Culinary Arts from Valencia College, AS and BS Degree in Space Studies from American Public University (APUS), BS and MS Degrees in Hospitality Management from the University of Central Florida (UCF), a JD in Law from Florida A&M University (FAMU), and a PhD in Hotel Administration from the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV).

Gary developed his professional career in the hospitality industry over a period of about 10 years. He worked for the Walt Disney World Company in both theme parks and hotels. He worked for Rosen Hotels & Resorts in several management roles, including Guest Relations Manager, Hotel Manager, Investigations Manager, Assistant Security Director, and Sales Manager for the company’s seven hotels. He worked as North American Operations Manager for Picsolve, Inc., a UK-based entertainment photography company that manages photo operations for more than 350 different theme parks, aquariums, zoos, and other attractions all around the world. He worked for Merlin Entertainments Group, the world’s second-largest entertainment company (behind Disney), as Head of Operations at the Madame Tussaud’s Las Vegas Interactive Wax Museum. Finally, Gary also worked as Manager of Training and Administration for Wynn Resorts at the iconic Wynn and Encore luxury Las Vegas resorts.

Gary also works in the legal field. He previously spent a brief period working as a practicing attorney, and currently he manages a consulting firm through which he provides attorneys with expert witness services in cases involving hospitality or hotel safety and security issues, standards of care, negligence and liability, and other areas.

In addition to Gary’s industry and legal experience, he has also spent ten years working in higher education at various institutions, including Valencia College, UNLV, Colorado Technical University, Kaplan University, The Art Institute of Pittsburgh, UCF, APUS, CSU Global, and UFL. Gary has developed and taught courses in business, management, hospitality, leadership and ethics, sales and marketing, professionalism, law, human resources, engineering, and other areas. He currently serves as Faculty Director for the APUS School of Business where he oversees a team of 100+ faculty teaching courses in transportation and logistics, supply chain dynamics, and defense contract management. He also serves as an adjunct professor for UCF, CSU, and UFL.

Over the course of Gary’s career, he has also earned several professional licenses and credentials. Gary is licensed to practice law in Florida and Nevada. He has also been credentialed as a Certified Lodging Security Director (CLSD)*, Certified Hospitality Sales Professional (CHSP)*, Certified Hotel Sales Executive (CHSE), Certified Hospitality Educator (CHE)*, Certified Hospitality Industry Analyst (CHIA), and Human Resources Management Certified Professional (SHRM-CP).

Gary is a devoted husband and a father to two wonderful little boys. He lives in Orlando, Florida with his family. They enjoy cruising with Royal Caribbean, and usually sail on several cruises each year.