Early Life and Education
Timothy Marvin Dunn was born in 1955 in Big Spring, Texas. Growing up in a Christian household, he was the youngest of four boys. Dunn was an Eagle Scout and graduated from Big Spring High School in 1974. He then went on to earn a degree in chemical engineering from Texas Tech University in 1978.
Career
Dunn began his career at ExxonMobil as an engineer from 1978 to 1980. He then worked in banking at First City National Bank in Midland until 1987, eventually becoming senior vice president and manager of oil and gas lending. From 1987 to 1995, Dunn worked at Parker & Parsley Petroleum, where he became chief financial officer. In 1996, Dunn founded CrownQuest Operating, where he currently serves as CEO. CrownQuest Operating is a significant player in the Permian Basin. In December 2023, Dunn signed an agreement to sell his fracking company, CrownRock, to Occidental Petroleum in a deal valued at $12.4 billion.
Key Business Strategies
Dunn's success is rooted in his strategic acquisitions in the Permian Basin. He acquired cheap leases in the Permian Basin years before the fracking boom. CrownQuest Operating's strategy has been to maintain operations even during economic downturns, keeping rigs drilling throughout the pandemic. In August of 2024, Dunn finalized the $12 billion deal to sell CrownRock LP to Occidental Petroleum Corp..
Philanthropy
Dunn is actively involved in philanthropy. He funds adoption services and foster homes for over 300 children in West Texas. He serves as the chairman of the Christian Advisory Board of the Israel Allies Foundation.