Major Derek Abbey, USMC (Ret)
Major Derek Abbey. spent 23 years in the Marine Corps where his service included time with fighter squadrons and special operations. He was winged a Naval Flight Officer and was designated a F/A-18 WSO and served in VMFA(AW)-121 and deployed for Operation Iraqi Freedom. He holds more combat hours in the Hornet than hours in peaceful skies.
In 2007, Derek was assigned to the newly formed 1st Marine Special Operations Battalion or 1st Raider Battalion of the Marine Corps Special Operations Command. During this period h e conducted another combat deployment to Afghanistan sources of detection in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Derek’s finished his career in the Marine Corps as the Director of the Marine Corps Train the Trainer School. His schoolhouse was responsible for the training and education of instructors, developers, staff and leadership of 93 training units across the Marine Corps.
He earned a two undergraduate degrees in History from Oregon State University and a Master of Arts in Higher Education Leadership from the University of San Diego while in the service and continues his formal learning today as he progresses through a doctoral program in Leadership at the University of San Diego.
Today, Derek focuses on giving back. He aids veterans and military-connected students in fulfilling their goals attaining higher education as the Military Liaison at San Diego State University. As a member of the BentProp Project, he searches for lost servicemen from World War II still missing in the Western Pacific.
He is currently teaching Undergraduate Research as part of a collaboration between San Diego State University and the BentProp Project
