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Sergeant First Class Derek Gallegos is a native of Muskegon, MI. He enlisted in the Army National Guard as a Soldier in the Military Police in April of 2008 and attended Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Leonard Wood, MO.

SFC Gallegos’ first duty station was the 1775th Military Police Company in Pontiac, MI, where he stayed until 2012, when he transitioned to the 144 Military Police Company in Owosso, MI.

SFC Gallegos deployed to Afghanistan from 2013-2014 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Kabul, Afghanistan, where he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant. In 2016 SFC Gallegos was Honorably Discharged but 18 months later, returned to the 46th Military Police Company, where he then transitioned to becoming a Recruiting and Retention NCO.

SFC Gallegos has worked in Michigan in Farmington Hills, Holland and Grand Rapids as a Recruiter, before transitioning to an On-Campus Recruiter in 2022 at Grand Valley State University. He also volunteered as a high school football coach at Allegan High School.

SFC Gallegos is currently serving as a Military Liaison and On-Campus Michigan Army National Guard Recruiter at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, MI. SFC Gallegos is a graduate of the Basic Leaders Course, Advanced Leaders Course, Combat Lifesaver Course and Common Faculty Development Instructor Course. His awards and decorations include his personal favorite, which is the Michigan Legion of Merit, awarded for his volunteer efforts during the Hurricane Harvey disaster in Texas. He was also awarded the Army Achievement Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Overseas Service Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, as well as many others during his service.