Captain Derrick Kingsley, USN
Captain Derrick Kingsley is a native of Granite City, Illinois and graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1996 and earned a Master of Science Degree from the University of San Diego. He was designated a Naval Aviator in 1998 and has served in a number of squadrons at sea and ashore, including Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Five "Night Dippers," Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Ten (HS-10) "War Hawks," Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron Three (HSC-3) “Merlins,” and as Commanding Officer of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron Eight (HSC-8) “Eightballers.” He has supported numerous operations worldwide in a variety of leadership roles, including with Carrier Air Wing Seven aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) in support of Operation Southern Watch, USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) and the John C. Stennis Strike Group in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, and USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) in support of Operation Unified Response in Haiti. Kingsley served as the Chief of Naval Operations Plans and Policy Deputy Branch Head and lead Action Officer for the Strategic Laydown and Dispersal portfolio from January 2015 until January 2018 before reporting to the Joint Staff (J35), where he served as the Chief of Operations for the National Military Command Center and then Chief of Staff for the Director of Operations (J3) from September 2018 until December 2019. Kingsley is no stranger to installation command; he served as the interim commanding officer of Naval Air Facility El Centro in El Centro, California from January to March of 2020. His personal awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal (second award), Air Medal, and the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal.