NAVAIR

Cmdr. Darrell Lack is a native of Hoyt, Kan., who graduated from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, in December 1989 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering and received his commission in April 1990 through the Aviation Reserve Officer Candidate Program. Following commissioning, he attended flight training in Pensacola, Fla., earning his Naval Flight Officer designation from Training Squadron EIGHT SIX (VT-86) in May 1991. After attending the S-3B Viking Fleet Replacement Squadron with Air Anti-Submarine Squadron TWO SEVEN (VS-27) in Jacksonville, Fla., he reported to the Sawbucks of Sea Control Squadron THREE SEVEN (VS-37) at Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego, Calif. While attached to VS-37, Lack completed two Western Pacific operational deployments to the Arabian Gulf aboard USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) and Carrier Air Wing FIFTEEN (CVW-15) in support of Operation Restore Hope, Operation South Watch and several other missions in the Pacific Theater.

Lack attended the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif. and graduated in 1997 with a Master of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering (Avionics). He then reported to Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/Commander Fifth Fleet (CUSNC/C5F) in Manama, Bahrain where he was a joint military exercise planning officer working Joint and Coalition military exercises with US and Theater Coalition Forces. In 1999, he reported to the Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, and was assigned to the Naval Mission Planning Systems Program Office (PMA-233) as a special projects officer.

Lack was selected as an Aerospace Engineering duty officer (AEDO) in the fall of 1999, and in the summer of 2000, was selected to attend the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School at Patuxent River. Upon graduation in December 2001 (Class 120), he reported to Air Test and Evaluation Squadron TWO ZERO (VX-20) as a department head and S-3B Viking project officer.

Lack reported as the AEDO community manager and Total Force Manpower manager in February 2004, where he developed and implemented Human Capital Strategies within the AEDO Community and the Naval Aviation Enterprise. In February 2006, he reported to the Air Traffic Control and Combat Identification Systems Program Office (PMA-213), under the Program Executive Officer for Tactical Aircraft Programs (PEO(T)). He served as the platform coordinator Integrated Product Team lead for the Joint Precision Approach and Landing System, and also served as the deputy program manager for Combat Identification and Navigation Systems. While assigned to PMA-213, he was selected for an individual augmentation assignment to the United States European Command (EUCOM) in Stuttgart, Germany. While assigned, he was responsible for Liberia Security Sector Reform, where the existing military was transformed to a U.S. military training, recruiting and operational model.

In December 2007, he was selected into the Secretary of Defense Corporate Fellowship Program for Academic Year 2008–2009 (Class 14). He was assigned to Raytheon Network Centric Systems in McKinney, Tex., where he served on the executive staff on several acquisition and special interest working groups.

In November 2009, he reported to the Tomahawk Missile Systems Program Office (PMA-280) under Program Executive Officer for Unmanned Aviation and Strike Weapons PEO(U&W)), serving as the production officer for the Tomahawk Missile System. In July 2010, he was selected to serve as the military director to the NAVAIR Cost Department (AIR 4.2), working Program Performance Team initiatives throughout NAVAIR.

In July 2011, he was assigned to his current position as the program manager for Naval Air Traffic Management Systems Program Office (PMA-213) under PEO(T).

His personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal (3 awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (3 awards), Joint Service Achievement Medal, and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.