| Dennis F. Rasmussen | |
| Order: | 8th Baltimore County Executive |
| Term Start: | 1986 |
| Term End: | 1990 |
| Predecessor: | Donald P. Hutchinson |
| Successor: | Roger B. Hayden |
| Birth Date: | June 14, 1947 |
| Birth Place: | Essex, Maryland |
| Party: | Democrat |
| State Senate2: | Maryland |
| District2: | 6th |
| Term Start2: | 1982 |
| Term End2: | 1986 |
| State Senate3: | Maryland |
| District3: | 7th |
| Term Start3: | 1978 |
| Term End3: | 1982 |
| State Delegate4: | Maryland |
| District4: | 7th |
| Term Start4: | 1975 |
| Term End4: | 1978 |
Dennis F. Rasmussen (born June 14, 1947) is an American politician from the state of Maryland. A member of the Democratic Party, he has served as Baltimore County Executive, a Delegate within the Maryland House of Delegates as well as a Senator within the Maryland Senate. He ran unsuccessfully in the 2006 Maryland U.S. Senate election.[1]
Rasmussen graduated from Kenwood High School in Essex, Maryland. He attended Essex Community College but ended up obtaining a bachelor's degree in economics from Loyola College in Baltimore, Maryland in 1970.[2]
Rasmussen established and later served as President of The Rasmussen Group, a political lobbying group.
His career includes both political offices and entrepreneurial experience in the fields of lobbying, association management, banking and marketing services, as well as the directorships on various boards of major corporate entities and community nonprofits. He developed and operated several businesses in the fields of information development, alternative energy and real estate. As a lobbyist, Rasmussen has worked at local, state and federal government levels.
Additionally, Rasmussen is a Principal in consulting firms such as Chesapeake Renewable Energy, LLC, Chesapeake Ventures, LLC, and Rasmussen/Swanzey Strategic Partners, LLC.[3]
Prior to his advocacy career, Rasmussen served as Chairman of the Maryland Senate Finance Committee as a State Senator from 1978 to 1986. Rasmussen held a variety of key positions, ranging from Majority Whip, Chairman of the Joint Budget and Audit Committee to Chairman of the Finance Committee.[4]
Rasmussen served a single term as Baltimore County Executive between 1986 and 1990. Two decades later, he ran unsuccessfully for the junior Maryland seat in the 2006 U.S. Senate election.[5]
Rasmussen serves on numerous boards including the Chairman of the Board of Visitors at Towson University, where he is also an adjunct professor teaching public policy courses. Rasmussen also serves as a current member of: Board of Trustees at the Franklin Square Hospital Center; Board of Trustees for the Franklin Square Hospital Center Foundation;Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Port Discovery Children's Museum and; Current Board Member of the Arc of Baltimore.[6]