Derwood Clayiborne Curtis (born December 13, 1953) is a retired

vice admiral Vice admiral is a senior naval flag officer rank, usually equivalent to lieutenant general and air marshal. A vice admiral is typically senior to a rear admiral and junior to an admiral. Australia In the Royal Australian Navy, the rank of Vice ...

in the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the naval warfare, maritime military branch, service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest Displacement (ship), displacement, at 4.5 millio ...

who served as the Commander, Naval Surface Forces and concurrently Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet from March 2008 to June 2011.http://www.sunymaritime.edu/documents/2011/4/12/VADMCurtisBIO.pdf

Service

Born in

Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...

and raised in

Chicago Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

, Curtis graduated from the

United States Naval Academy The United States Naval Academy (USNA, Navy, or Annapolis) is a United States Service academies, federal service academy in Annapolis, Maryland. It was established on 10 October 1845 during the tenure of George Bancroft as United States Secre ...

in 1976 where he earned a bachelor's degree in political science. Following commissioning, he attended the Surface Warfare Basic School in

Newport, Rhode Island Newport is a seaside city on Aquidneck Island in Rhode Island, United States. It is located in Narragansett Bay, approximately southeast of Providence, Rhode Island, Providence, south of Fall River, Massachusetts, south of Boston, and nort ...

, and was awarded the Arleigh Burke Award. Curtis served in a variety of sea and shore assignments. At sea, his assignments include USS ''Moinester'' (FF-1097), USS ''Thorn'' (DD-988), USS ''Dahlgren'' (DDG-43) and Cruiser-Destroyer Group 2/George Washington Battle Group. He also served as

executive officer An executive officer is a person who is principally responsible for leading all or part of an organization, although the exact nature of the role varies depending on the organization. In many militaries and police forces, an executive officer ...

, USS ''Scott'' (DDG-995), chief of staff to Commander, 2nd Fleet/Commander, Striking Fleet Atlantic/Task Force 120, and Deputy Commander,

U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command (also known as USNAVSO) is the naval element of United States Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM). Its areas of operation include South America, Central America, the Caribbean and surrounding waters. Its headquarters ...

. His command tours include USS ''Wainwright'' (CG-28), USS ''Donald B. Beary'' (FFT-1085), Destroyer Squadron 14, Naval Surface Group 2 and Commander, Carrier Strike Group 11/Nimitz Strike Group. His shore assignments include the U.S. Naval Academy as a company officer; the

Bureau of Naval Personnel The Bureau of Naval Personnel (BUPERS) in the United States Department of the Navy is similar to the human resources department of a corporation. The bureau provides administrative leadership and policy planning for the Office of the Chief of N ...

as the senior year group detailer; the Chief of Naval Operations Aegis/DDG-51 Program Office; senior military assistant in the Office of Naval Warfare; executive assistant and Naval aide to the 71st and 72nd Secretaries of the Navy; and Navy Europe Programs, Strategy and Policy, and director, Transformation Activities for Commander, U.S. Naval Forces, Europe – 6th Fleet. His most recent assignment was as the 51st commander, Naval Surface Force, Atlantic and deputy commander, Naval Surface Forces where he served as the chief readiness officer for the Surface Warfare Enterprise. Curtis’ personal decorations include the

Legion of Merit The Legion of Merit (LOM) is a Awards and decorations of the United States military, military award of the United States Armed Forces that is given for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievemen ...

Defense Meritorious Service Medal The Defense Meritorious Service Medal (DMSM) is an award bestowed upon members of the United States military by the United States Department of Defense. In the order of precedence of the United States Armed Forces, it is worn between the Purple ...

Meritorious Service Medal A Meritorious Service Medal is an award presented to denote acts of meritorious service, and sometimes gallantry, that are worthy of recognition. Notable medals with similar names include: Singapore *Pingat Jasa Gemilang, or Meritorious Services Me ...

Navy Commendation Medal The Commendation Medal is a mid-level United States military decoration presented for sustained acts of heroism or meritorious service. Each branch of the United States Armed Forces issues its own version of the Commendation Medal, with a fift ...

Navy Achievement Medal The Achievement Medal is a military decoration of the United States Armed Forces. The Achievement Medal was first proposed as a means to recognize outstanding achievement or meritorious service of military personnel who were not eligible to rece ...

and other awards. He holds a

Master of Science A Master of Science (; abbreviated MS, M.S., MSc, M.Sc., SM, S.M., ScM or Sc.M.) is a master's degree. In contrast to the Master of Arts degree, the Master of Science degree is typically granted for studies in sciences, engineering and medici ...

degree in administration from

Central Michigan University Central Michigan University (CMU) is a Public university, public research university in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, United States. It was established in 1892 as a private normal school and became a state institution in 1895. CMU is one of the eigh ...

and is a graduate of the

National Defense University National Defence (or Defense) University (or College) may refer to: :''Alphabetical by country'' University * Marshal Fahim National Defense University, Afghanistan * National Defense University (Azerbaijan) * People's Liberation Army National Defe ...

and the

NATO Defense College NATO Defense College (NDC) is the international military college for NATO, North Atlantic Treaty Organization countries. It is located in Rome, Italy. History The idea of a NATO Defense College originated with General Dwight D. Eisenhower, t ...

Senior Course.

References

Attribution

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Curtis, D.C. 1953 births Living people Military personnel from Chicago United States Naval Academy alumni African-American United States Navy personnel Central Michigan University alumni Recipients of the Legion of Merit United States Navy vice admirals 21st-century African-American military personnel 20th-century African-American military personnel