Darrell Melrose Bio.

Darrell Melrose currently serves as Executive Officer of the 318th Press Camp Headquarters (PCH) in Forest Park, Illinois. The 318th PCH is a command in the U.S. Army Reserve, with more than 100 Public Affairs Soldiers, in six units spread over five states.  

Prior to this assignment, Melrose served as the Commander of the 350^th Public Affairs Detachment, leading the unit on a military deployment as U.S. Army Central Public Affairs Detachment, Forward, Camp Arifjan, Kuwait.

Darrell was commissioned a Second Lieutenant after graduating from National Guard Accelerated Officer Candidate School, Alabama Military Academy, Fort McClellan, Alabama in March 2007. He subsequently graduated from U.S. Army Engineer Officer Basic Course. Darrell began his military career enlisting in the active-duty U.S. Air Force in 1989.

Darrell's assignments include the 377^th Civil Engineer Squadron (CES) Ramstein AB, Germany; 1989-1991, serving in support of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. 436^th CES, Dover AFB 1991-1993. 126^th Air Reserve Wing, U.S.A.F. Reserve 1993-1995. In 1995 Darrell entered the Individual Ready Reserve  until 1997, then remained out of military service until 2006 when he enlisted in the Illinois Army National Guard, serving 2006-2007  with the 33^rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team; 631^st Engineer Support Company 2007-2009; 139^th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, 2009-2010 serving a 12 month voluntary deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He then served with 65^th Troop Command Brigade 2010-2014 first as Project Officer to stand up a Joint Task Force for Homeland Security, then as operations assistant, volunteering to take an 8 man team to Eastern Europe in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve in 2014. Darrell transferred to U.S. Army Reserve in 2014, serving as 318^th PCH  Executive Officer, stepping down in 2016 to volunteer to take command of 350^th Public Affairs Detachment for a nine month deployment to the middle-east in support of Operations Spartan Shield and Operation Inherent Resolve. Darrell was promoted to the rank of Major during the course of that deployment. 

Darrell received his bachelor’s degree from Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois in 1999. His military schools include Air Force HVAC Technician Course; Engineer Officer Basic Course; Defense Information School Public Affairs Qualification Course; Multi-functional Logistics Captains Career Course, Joint Force Headquarters/Joint Task Force Staff Training Course.  

Darrell has received more than 20 decorations and awards over the course of his military career.

Darrell has also owned several business in his civilian life, and continues his entrepreneurial  pursuits.

  

Darrell is married to Marie Alvarado Melrose and has two daughters, Heather and Cameron.