MS SR41

Commander Desmond Walker of Hollandale, Mississippi, received the 45th Annual Vice Admiral James Bond Stockdale Leadership Award, presented by Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Daryl Claudle at the Pentagon on January 15, 2026

Walker served as Commanding Officer of the USS Stout (DDG55), an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer operating out of Norfolk, Virginia, leading approximately 300 sailors for 23 months

Walker earned a Bronze Star Medal and Combat Action Ribbon for offensive/defensive actions in a combat zone, along with the Meritorious Service Medal (third star) for his commanding officer performance

Under Walker's command, the USS Stout earned the Battle Effectiveness Award and Retention Excellence Award, recognizing high standards in leadership, training, and professional development

Walker has served 29 years in the U.S. Navy and is a 1996 graduate of the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science, 2005 graduate of Norfolk State University, and 2012 graduate of Old Dominion University