Commanding Officer
Col Derek M. Brannon

Colonel Brannon is from Lubbock, Texas and was commissioned through the Platoon Leaders Class program in 1996 after earning a Bachelor of Industrial Engineering degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology. He was designated a Naval Aviator in 1999 and completed F/A-18 training at VFA-125 in 2000.

His subsequent assignments include: VMFA-232 from 2000 to 2003 participating in the Unit Deployment Program (UDP) and Operation IRAQI FREEDOM (OIF); Second Air and Naval Gunfire Liaison Company from 2003 to 2005 participating in OIF; VMFA-115 from 2006 to 2009 participating in UDP and OIF; Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron-1 from 2009 to 2012; U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Europe and Africa G-5 Plans Division from 2013 to 2014; VMFA-122 Commanding Officer from 2015 to 2016 participating in UDP; Joint Staff Operations Directorate from 2018 to 2019; Office of the Director, Joint Staff from 2019 to 2020; and SECNAV Council of Review Boards from 2020 to 2021.

Colonel Brannon is a graduate of the Weapons and Tactics Instructor course, the School of Advanced Warfighting, and the U.S. Naval War College. He holds Masters in Operational Studies, Business Administration, and National Security and Strategic Studies.

Colonel Brannon’s personal decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with combat distinguishing device, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and the Combat Action Ribbon.

Colonel Brannon is luckily married and has two children.