CWO2 Darren L. Pierson Jr.
Executive Officer, USS Anzio (CG 68)
13 May 2021
CWO2 Darren L. Pierson Jr., a Florida native. He commissioned through the Limited Duty Officer in-service procurement program in June 2019.
CWO2 Pierson enlisted in the Navy in July 2002 and after boot camp at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Illinois he attended Cryptologic Technician Collections (CTR) “A” school in Pensacola, Florida.
Operational assignments have included USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) and USS Enterprise (CVN 65) in Norfolk, VA from 2003-2009 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. During this timeframe he completed a deployment with USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He later served on an Individual Augmentee (IA) assignment in Afghanistan from 2010-2011. In 2013 he reported to USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62) in Yokosuka, Japan as the Leading Chief Petty Officer for Operations-Technical Division.
Ashore and fleet support tours include Navy Information Operations Command Norfolk, VA, where he served as an intelligence analyst from 2009-2013. During this tour he was selected for advancement to Chief Petty Officer. From 2017 to 2019 he served as the Leading Chief Cryptologic Technician Collection Instructor in Yokosuka, Japan, where he trained and mentored 7th Fleet Sailors in the Cryptologic community. He commissioned as a Cryptologic Warfare, Chief Warrant Officer in June 2019.
He reported to USS ANZIO in November 2019 as Tactical Cryptologic Warfare Officer and assumed duties as Executive Officer in April 2021.
He holds various decorations and awards, including Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (4) and various individual, unit and campaign awards.