Former Lind resident receives WSUAA Alumni Achievement Award

Former Lind resident Gregory Michael “Deke” Gassett recently received the Washington State University Alumni Association (WSUAA) Alumni Achievement Award for his service in law enforcement, volunteer community work and immense support for the University.

After graduating from WSU in 1980 with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, Gassett continued to support the university through his career and by remaining an active role in the community.

Gassett’s contributions have benefitted the university immensely including organizing a fundraiser for the WSU police officers to purchase Kevlar vests for additional protection.

The explosion of a bomb in the campus dorms in 1979 is what inspired him to raise the necessary funds for the vests.

Eight years later, his efforts proved to benefit him as well as the vests protected him during his career as a drug enforcement agent.

His achievements expand beyond WSU as his law enforcement career has included service for the state gambling commission and extensive work for the United States Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA).

Gassett received recognition from the DEA for his heroic efforts after being involved in a shootout in 1986 as they presented him with the Purple Heart, the agency’s highest award.

Along with the Purple Heart and WSUAA Alumni Achievement award, Gassett has also received the Kevlar Survivors Award and the Medal of Valor from the International Association of Chiefs of Police.

The director of the FBI has also recognized him for international cooperation.

Gassett remains an active role in controlling the drug trafficking in the country by serving on multiple community boards and assisting community leaders to prevent young people from using narcotics.

He directed the DEA investigation against one of the U.S. attorney general’s most wanted international drug traffickers, Marc Emery and the investigation of the first drug trafficking tunnel between the U.S. and Canada.

During his time at WSU, Gassett volunteered at the WSU/Community Crisis Center, mentored in the Whitman County juvenile probation office and received a state of Washington volunteer award.

The WSUAA Board of Directors created the WSUAA Alumni Achievement Award in 1970 to recognize alumni who have given outstanding service to WSU and contributed to their professions and communities.

As the highest honor bestowed by the Alumni Association, Gassett is the 530th recipient of the award out of the estimated 250,000 students who have attended WSU.