Cmdr. Desmond K. Walker
Commanding Officer, USS Stout (DDG 55)
01 August 2023
Cmdr. Desmond Walker is a native of Hollandale, Mississippi. He enlisted in the Navy in 1996 and was commissioned through the Seaman-to-Admiral 21 program in 2005 from the Hampton Roads NROTC. He graduated from Norfolk State University, with a Bachelor of Science in Electronics Technology. He also holds a Master of Engineering Management from Old Dominion University, and Master of Business Administration from Central Michigan University. He completed Joint Professional Military Education Phase I in 2015.
Cmdr. Walker’s sea duty assignments include: Well Deck and Small Boats Division Officer and Assistant Training Officer on USS Bataan (LHD 5); Reactor Laboratories Division Officer aboard USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75); Operations Officer on USS Carney (DDG 64); Chemistry/Radiological Controls Assistant aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70). Most recently, he served as Executive Officer of USS Bainbridge (DDG 96).
Ashore, Cmdr. Walker’s assignments include: Nuclear Programs Manager at Commander, Navy Recruiting Command; Section Head for Amphibious Warfare In-Service Readiness (OPNAV N953); Special Assistant to the 31st Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV N00Z) and Navy Liaison Officer to the 37th Commandant of the Marine Corps (Strategic Initiatives Group); Director for Combat Systems, Afloat Training Group Mayport; Executive Assistant to Commander, U.S. Second Fleet/Commander, Joint Forces Command Norfolk.
His decorations and awards include the Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), Navy Commendation Medal (six awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (three awards), and various unit awards and citations. He received the Career Achievement in Government Award at the 36th Black Engineer of the Year Awards STEM Conference in February 2022.
Cmdr. Walker assumed command of USS Stout on 21 Jul 23.