Gerald P. Odean is national secretary at Modern Woodmen of America. In this position, he has direct responsibility for 12 operational departments and provides administrative support for all other departments at Modern Woodmen's home office.

Odean began his career with Modern Woodmen in 1968 in the Data Processing department. He was appointed manager of the Personnel department in 1976 and became assistant national secretary in 1982, where he served until being promoted to his current position in 2003. He was appointed to the board of directors in May 2003.

Odean holds a bachelor’s degree from St. Ambrose University, Davenport, Iowa, and is a Fellow with distinction in the Life Management Institute. He is a past president of the Quad-Cities chapter of the former Administrative Management Society. In 1984 Odean was elected chairperson of the Institute for Management Development at St. Ambrose University.

He is also past president of the Quad-City Personnel Association and was chairperson of the Personnel Committee of the American Red Cross of the Quad Cities Area. He served as chairperson of the Life Office Management Association Administrative Services Committee. He is a past member of Modern Woodmen's President’s Advisory, Imaging and Building committees, and he is a current member of the Investment and Product Study committees. 

He and his wife, Tana, have three children and six grandchildren.