Richland Northeast Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps
Senior Naval Science Instructor
Captain Douglas Walker
Captain Walker served 34 years in the United States Navy before retiring in May 2018. He attended High School at Booker T. Washington in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He enlisted in the United States Navy in 1984. After completing Navy Nuclear Power School, he attended the Naval Academy Preparatory School at Newport, Rhode Island. He was accepted to the United States Naval Academy with the class of 1990 and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Ocean Engineering. Captain Walker earned a Master of Arts Degree in National Security and Strategic Studies in 2005 from the United States War College.
Captain Walker received his Naval Flight Officer wings in 1992 at Naval Air Station Pensacola and flew in the S-3B Viking for over 15 years and more than 2,500 flight hours. He served on three different Aircraft Carriers (INDEPENDENCE, KITTY HAWK and ENTERPRISE) where he amassed more than 750 arrested landings. He flew over 34 combat support missions over Iraq during 3 combat cruises as a Naval Flight Officer. He then served as the Carrier Operations Officer for 2 more combat cruises on USS JOHN C. STENNIS.
Captain Walker has also served in a number of other billets away from the aircraft carrier. He served as a flight instructor at the S-3B Fleet Replacement Squadron in San Diego, the Flag Lieutenant for Commander THIRD Fleet on board the USS CORONADO (LPD 11), the VS Community Detailer at Navy Personnel Command in Millington, Tennessee and as the Nuclear Current Operations Chief at US Strategic Command in Omaha, Nebraska.
Captain Walker served three times in Command. He commanded Sea Control Squadron VS-32, Naval Base Millington and NROTC University of South Carolina.
Captain Walker is married to Jennifer and they have three children: Alexa, Jasmine and Zach.
Naval Science Instructor
Master Gunnery Sergeant Frederick Gaston
Master Gunnery Sergeant Frederick L. Gaston was born April 5, 1971, in Charlotte, N.C. he enlisted in the Marine Corps on June 19, 1989.
Upon completion of the School of Infantry, he was assigned to Security Force Company, in the Republic of the Philippines where he served in Jungle Platoon and Alpha Company barracks duty. In 1991, he was assigned to 1st Bn 6th Marines where he served as squad leader deployed in support of Operation Promote Democracy in 1993, and Operation Restore Hope in 1993. He won the 2nd Marine Division rifle squad competition resulting as the number one squad leader in the 2nd Marine Division.
In 1993, he successfully completed Marine Security Guard School and was assigned to Detachment Kampala Uganda, Central Africa serving as a watchstander. In 1995, he completed his second post in Karachi, Pakistan. As a watchstander, he successfully safeguarded American people, classified materials and property.
Upon successful completion of Marine Security Duty, he was assigned to 3rd Bn 8th Marines serving as an infantry squad leader and platoon sergeant. In 1996, he won his second super squad competition in the 2nd Marine Division. In 1998 as a platoon sergeant he successfully led a platoon of Marines in combat to Kosovo.
In 1999, after completing the Basic Recruiters Course, Master Gunnery Sergeant Gaston was assigned to the 6th Marine Corps District, RS Montgomery, Alabama, RSS Fort Walton Beach, Florida. He immediately initiated a course of action to become a Career Recruiter and subsequently earned the military occupational specialty of 8412. As the SNCOIC of RSS Fort Walton Beach, he received station of the year honors and was meritoriously promoted to gunnery sergeant. He was then transferred to RSS Montgomery, Alabama, on August 2002 for duty as the SNCOIC where his station successfully made contracting and shipping requirements.
In May 2004, he transferred to RS Columbia for duty as the Operations Chief. In June 2005, he was selected to Recruiter Instructor and in 2006 was selected as the District Recruiter Instructor of the Year. In June 2008, he was selected as a member of the 6th Marine Corps District Training Team. On January 15, 2010, he was re-assigned to RS Columbia for duty as the Recruiter Instructor. In 2012, Recruiting Station Columbia was honored as the Recruiting Station of the year under MGySgt. Gaston’s leadership. On December 15, 2012, he was selected to be the 6MCD Training Team Chief, where he created the 6MCD’s first Hall of Fame Wall. In 2013, he was selected to the 6MCD District Career Recruiter Hall of Fame. MGySgt Gaston received his Bachelors of Business Management degree from the University of Phoenix.
Master Gunnery Sergeant Gaston’s personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (sixth award), the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (fifth award), and the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal (eighth award), Joint Service Achievement Medal (second award), and the Combat Action Ribbon. MGySgt. Gaston has two daughters, Leandra(25) and Diamond (18)