Derek Abbey - U.S. Marine Corps 1991-2014

Derek Abbey enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1991 when he was 17 years old and served for 23 years, retiring as a Major. After his first enlistment he was selected for a commissioning program as a ground officer. Soon after he was also selected for an aviation contract and became a F/A-18 Weapons Systems Officer. He was deployed three times to Iraq for Operation Southern Watch and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He then became a Plank Owner at Marine Corps Special Operations Command and was deployed to Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom. Derek is now President and CEO of Project Recover, a non-profit dedicated to repatriate Americans missing in action since World War II.