Dennis Chambers was born in 1941 in Santa Monica, California. He was commissioned a 2d Lt in the U.S. Air Force through the Air Force ROTC program at California State University at San Jose on June 7, 1963, and went on active duty beginning June 3, 1965. Lt Chambers next completed Undergraduate Pilot Training and was awarded his pilot wings at Williams AFB, Arizona, in June 1966, followed by F-4C Phantom II Combat Crew Training with the 45th Tactical Fighter Squadron at MacDill AFB, Florida, from October 1966 to March 1967. His next assignment was as an F-4C pilot with the 559th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Cam Ranh Bay AB, South Vietnam, from March 1967 until he was forced to eject over North Vietnam and was taken as a Prisoner of War on August 7, 1967. After spending 2,047 days in captivity, Capt Chambers was released during Operation Homecoming on March 14, 1973. He was briefly hospitalized to recover from his injuries at Travis AFB, California, and then left active duty and joined the Air Force Reserve on August 14, 1973. After attending C-5 Galaxy transition training, he served as a C-5 pilot with the 312th Military Airlift Squadron of the Air Force Reserve at Travis AFB, and left the Air Force Reserve on December 1, 1976. After leaving active duty, Dennis flew for Eastern Airlines for a short time and then went into the real estate business.

His Distinguished Flying Cross w/Valor Citation reads:

First Lieutenant Carl D. Chambers distinguished himself by heroism while participating in aerial flight as an F-4C pilot in Southeast Asia on 3 August 1967. On that date, Lieutenant Chambers flew in the lead aircraft on a strike executed against a large hostile force. While his aircraft commander was being plagued by communications malfunctions, Lieutenant Chambers took command and expertly led his flight against the hostile troop concentration. Lieutenant Chambers delivered his ordnance with expert precision, despite marginal weather conditions and intense hostile fire. His outstanding leadership and calm decisions were important factors in relieving a major obstacle to safe ground operations within the target area. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Lieutenant Chambers reflects great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.