CAPT Joseph M. Droll

Commanding Officer, USS MIGUEL KEITH (ESB 5) Blue Crew

27 June 2022 Captain Joe Droll is a native of St. Louis, Missouri.  After graduating from Ritenour Senior High School in 1991, he attended Navy Boot Camp at Naval Recruit Training Center, San Diego.  He was selected for and attended the Navy’s Broadened Opportunity for Officer Selection and Training (BOOST) Program. Upon completion, he received a Naval ROTC scholarship and attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  In December, 1998, he graduated with a B.S. in Economics and received his commission.
 
His sea tours have included Division Officer, Radars/Electronics, Interior/Exterior Communications, Assistant Electronic Materials Officer, USS BATAAN (LHD 5); Navigator, USS THORN (DD 988); Operations Officer, HMS WALNEY (M-101); Operations Officer, USS CROMMELIN (FFG 37); Military Detachment Officer in Charge, Motor Vessel C-CHAMPION (Joint Special Operations Task Force – Philippines); Damage Control Assistant (DCA) USS NASSAU (LHA 5); Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber and Intelligence (C5I) Officer, USS IWO JIMA (LHD 7) – where he redesignated to TAR (formerly FTS); and Executive Officer, COASTAL RIVERINE SQUADRON TWO (CRS 2), where he later fleeted up to become Commanding Officer.  He assumed command of USS MIGUEL KEITH (ESB 5) Blue Crew in June 2022.   

Ashore, he served as Assistant Operations Officer, DESTROYER SQUADRON 31 (DESRON 31); Action Officer for Maritime Homeland Defense and Maritime Operational Threat Response (MOTR) portfolios, JOINT STAFF, J34 (Deputy Directorate for Antiterrorism/Homeland Defense); Chief Staff Officer, COASTAL RIVERINE GROUP TWO (CRG 2); Reserve Force Generation and Force Development Action Officer, United States Fleet Forces Command’s (USFFC) Vice Commander’s office; and Commander Naval Surface Forces U.S. Pacific Fleet (CNSP) Force Reserve Program Director (RPD). 

His personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal (2), Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (4), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (2), as well as various unit and campaign medals.