Derwood Clayiborne Curtis (born December 13, 1953) is a retired vice admiral in the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...

who served as the Commander,

Naval Surface Forces Commander, Naval Surface Force Pacific (COMNAVSURFPAC) is a United States Navy vice admiral, who leads the Naval Surface Force, United States Pacific Fleet. The commander is also designated as commander, Naval Surface Force (COMNAVSURFOR), a "du ...

and concurrently Commander, Naval Surface Force,

U.S. Pacific Fleet The United States Pacific Fleet (USPACFLT) is a theater-level component command of the United States Navy, located in the Pacific Ocean. It provides naval forces to the Indo-Pacific Command. Fleet headquarters is at Joint Base Pearl Harbor� ...

from March 2008 to June 2011.http://www.sunymaritime.edu/documents/2011/4/12/VADMCurtisBIO.pdf

Service

Born in Japan and raised in

Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = List of sovereign states, Count ...

, Curtis graduated from the

United States Naval Academy The United States Naval Academy (US Naval Academy, USNA, or Navy) 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 Secretary of ...

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 an American seaside city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island. It is located in Narragansett Bay, approximately southeast of Providence, south of Fall River, Massachusetts, south of Boston, and northeast of New ...

, 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 Destroyer Squadron 14, now Naval Surface Squadron Fourteen (CNSS 14, or SURFRON 14), is the administrative Immediate Superior in Command (ISIC) for ships that are homeported at Naval Station Mayport in Jacksonville, Florida. CNSS 14 was establish ...

, Naval Surface Group 2 and Commander,

Carrier Strike Group 11 Carrier Strike Group 11 (CSG-11 or CARSTRKGRU 11) is a U.S. Navy carrier strike group. Carrier strike groups gain and maintain sea control as well as project naval airpower ashore. The aircraft carrier is the strike group's current flagship. O ...

/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 The Sixth Fleet is a numbered fleet of the United States Navy operating as part of United States Naval Forces Europe. The Sixth Fleet is headquartered at Naval Support Activity Naples, Italy. The officially stated mission of the Sixth 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 military award of the United States Armed Forces that is given for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements. The decoration is issued to members of the eight ...

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 Purpl ...

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: *Meritorious Civilian Service Award *Meritorious Service Med ...

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 recei ...

and other awards. He holds a

Master of Science A Master of Science ( la, Magisterii Scientiae; abbreviated MS, M.S., MSc, M.Sc., SM, S.M., ScM or Sc.M.) is a master's degree in the field of science awarded by universities in many countries or a person holding such a degree. In contrast ...

degree in administration from

Central Michigan University Central Michigan University (CMU) is a public research university in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. Established in 1892 as the Central Michigan Normal School and Business Institute, the private normal school became a state institution and renamed Cen ...

and is a graduate of the

National Defense University The National Defense University (NDU) is an institution of higher education funded by the United States Department of Defense, intended to facilitate high-level education, training, and professional development of national security leaders. A ...

and the

NATO Defense College NATO Defense College (NDC) is the international military college for 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, the ...

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 people 20th-century African-American people