MILLINGTON, Tenn - Cmdr. Desmond Walker, a resident of Suffolk, Virginia, recently completed a tour as commanding officer of USS Stout, a U.S. Navy warship operating out of Norfolk, Virginia.
Walker is a native of Hollandale, Mississippi, and a 1996 graduate of the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science. Additionally, Walker is a 2005 graduate of Norfolk State and a 2012 graduate of Old Dominion University.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Hollandale.
"Growing up in the Mississippi Delta, you are not a stranger to hard work to make ends meet," Walker said. "That work ethic carried forward into my service, whether I was a work center supervisor (enlisted) or a department head (officer). Plus, I always give credit to my uncle who served in the Navy in the 1940s. His words of encouragement just before boot camp in 1996 still ring in my ears to remind me of the higher calling I have, if I accept it. It drives me to keep grinding."
Walker joined the Navy 29 years ago.
"I was conflicted on what I wanted to do after high school," Walker said. "After learning about the opportunities and benefits in the U.S. Navy, I signed up for the delayed entry program and committed to military service."
Walker is grateful for his service as USS Stout's commanding officer.
"After serving with those sailors for 23 months, from maintenance and training to bringing everyone home after a historic combat deployment, the impact I had on those 300 sailors, as a witness to their tenacity, durability, and resilience, is the best part about my career as a Surface Warfare Officer," Walker said.
Walker is a native of Hollandale, Mississippi, and a 1996 graduate of the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science. Additionally, Walker is a 2005 graduate of Norfolk State and a 2012 graduate of Old Dominion University.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Hollandale.
"Growing up in the Mississippi Delta, you are not a stranger to hard work to make ends meet," Walker said. "That work ethic carried forward into my service, whether I was a work center supervisor (enlisted) or a department head (officer). Plus, I always give credit to my uncle who served in the Navy in the 1940s. His words of encouragement just before boot camp in 1996 still ring in my ears to remind me of the higher calling I have, if I accept it. It drives me to keep grinding."
Walker joined the Navy 29 years ago.
"I was conflicted on what I wanted to do after high school," Walker said. "After learning about the opportunities and benefits in the U.S. Navy, I signed up for the delayed entry program and committed to military service."
Walker is grateful for his service as USS Stout's commanding officer.
"After serving with those sailors for 23 months, from maintenance and training to bringing everyone home after a historic combat deployment, the impact I had on those 300 sailors, as a witness to their tenacity, durability, and resilience, is the best part about my career as a Surface Warfare Officer," Walker said.
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Cmdr. Desmond Walker, left, receives an award for completing his tour as commanding officer of USS Stout. |
Stout is a guided missile destroyer named after Rear Adm. Herald F. Stout, who distinguished himself as the commanding officer of the destroyer USS Claxton during WWII. In November 1943, Cmdr. Stout received two Navy Crosses in the span of three weeks for his actions in the Pacific.
A Navy destroyer is a multi-mission ship that can operate independently or as part of a larger group of ships at sea. The ship is equipped with Tomahawk missiles, torpedoes, guns and a Phalanx close-in weapons system.
More than 300 sailors serve aboard a destroyer. Their jobs are highly specialized, requiring both dedication and skill. The jobs range from maintaining engines to handling weaponry, along with a multitude of other assignments that keep the ship mission-ready at all times, according to Navy officials.
The U.S. Navy is celebrating its 250th birthday this year.
According to Navy officials, “America is a maritime nation and for 250 years, America’s Warfighting Navy has sailed the globe in defense of freedom.”
With 90% of global commerce traveling by sea and access to the internet relying on the security of undersea fiber optic cables, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity of the United States is directly linked to recruiting and retaining talented people from across the rich fabric of America.
Walker has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
"I am most proud of my ship earning the most recent Battle Effectiveness Award and Retention Excellence Award," Walker said. "Both awards validated our approach to leadership, training, and professional development, as a culture, such that the way we did business was always at a high standard. This also translated to multiple promotions and achievements for dozens of sailors, which greatly improved job satisfaction and serving with a purpose."
Walker serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation’s prosperity and security.
"After serving 29 years in the Navy, this thought has evolved," Walker added. "At this point in my career, I love the consistent opportunities to help others succeed in the Navy. As a prior enlisted sailor, I want to help put the sailors' commitments to naval service in context. In today's fast-paced world, translating "the why" for the roles that are assigned doesn't always resonate with the day-to-day grind. The opportunity to mentor others is a gift that keeps giving."