CMDR. Derek A. Austin
OFFICER IN CHARGE, FLEET SURGICAL TEAM TWO
25 November 2025
Cmdr. Derek A. Austin grew up in Spokane, Washington and graduated from Whitworth University in 2006 completing a B.S. in Biology and B.A. in Chemistry. He attended Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences and earned his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Degree in 2012 before completing his Family Medicine Internship and Residency training at Naval Hospital Bremerton in 2015.
Upon completion of training, Cmdr. Austin reported to the USS HARRY S. TRUMAN (CVN 75) where he served as the Family Medicine Physician onboard and deployed to the FIFTH FLEET AOR in support of Operation Inherent Resolve with Carrier Strike Group 8.
He next reported to Naval Medical Center Portsmouth where he served multiple positions including: Independent Duty Corpsman Program Director, Medical Director of the Warrior Concussion Clinic, Clinic Director of NMRTU Norfolk, Tetrad SMO of NMRTU Norfolk, and the Department Head of Executive Medicine.
During this period, Cmdr. Austion also served as a member of the Critical Core on the USNS COMFORT (T-AH 20) and deployed for 3 months in 2018 and 6 months in 2019 to South America and the Caribbean in support of the Venezuelan Migrant Crisis in the SOUTHCOM AOR. CDR Austin also deployed to New York City in April of 2020 as a Medical Liaison officer to the USNS COMFORT during the COVID-19 pandemic to facilitate onboard care and offload the burden on the oversaturated medical systems.
Cmdr. Austin next transferred back to Washington State and served as the Department Head of Primary Care and the Medical Executive Committee chair at NMRTC Oak Harbor in 2020. He again deployed in December 2021 to New Mexico in support of the NORTHCOM and FEMA directed mission to provide hospitalist and ICU medical augmentation for local hospitals overrun by the COVID-19 pandemic. He next served as the Senior Medical Officer of the USS IWO JIMA and transferred the ship out of the shipyard and successfully completed the arduous BASIC and ADVANCED phase events to prepare the ship for deployment.
Cmdr. Austin is Board Certified in Family Medicine and is currently serving as the Fleet Surgical Team 2 Officer In Charge/CATF Surgeon since arriving in June of 2025. He earned his Surface Warfare Medical Officer qualification and has been awarded the Meritorious Service medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation medal (6), Navy Achievement Medal, Army Achievement medal, and other unit and personal awards.