Derek was born in Salt Lake City, Utah in 1971 and soon after moved with his family to Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada. Derek graduated from Fredericton High School in 1990 and served in the Canadian Armed Forces Reserves from 1989 to 1993 as an Infantryman and left the Canadian Armed Forces as a Corporal when he enlisted in the United States Army as a 19D Cavalry Scout December, 1993.

PFC Derek Duplisea graduated top of his class while attending 19D OSUT training at Ft. Knox, Kentucky April, 1994. He then attended the Airborne School at Ft. Benning, Georgia, graduated and was assigned to the 3rd Battalion (Airborne) 73rd Armor Regiment, 82d Airborne Division, Ft. Bragg, North Carolina where he served proudly as a U.S. Paratrooper with the free world's only airborne armor unit.

CPL Derek Duplisea complete his initial 3 years with the U.S. Army honorably and returned home to New Brunswick, Canada and attended his 2d year of college at St. Thomas University in Fredericton and re-joined his old Canadian Army unit, B Company, 1st Battalion Royal New Brunswick Regiment.

A year and a half later, Derek decided to once again raise his right hand and re-enlisted in the U.S. Army for a second tour, again as a 19D Cavalry Scout. This time he left the Canadian Armed Forces as a Master Corporal and Infantry Section Commander.

In May of 1998, Derek was assigned to 2-8 Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division stationed at Ft. Hood, Texas. Derek and his unit, HHC's Scout Platoon, deployed to Operation Joint Forge in support of operations in the former Yugoslavia's Bosnia-Herzegovina for 6 months.

Following a 2 year stint with 1CD, SGT Derek Duplisea was assigned to the U.S. Army Recruiting Command and completed a 3 year detailed Army Recruiting tour in Bellingham, Washington. SSG Duplisea was a distinguished and successful recruiter, earning the coveted U.S. Army Recruiter Gold Ring in less than 3 years.

SSG Derek Duplisea was then assigned to the 2d Armored Cavalry Regiment out of Ft. Polk, Louisiana. Derek literally left his job as a recruiter and was shipped straight into Iraq, joining Ghost Troop, 2/2 ACR in combat operations in Sadr City, Baghdad. Derek was then assigned as the senior scout for Green Platoon and completed his time in country with honor, bringing all of his men home in April, 2004. A few months later as the Army reconfigured, Derek was assigned to the famed 101st Airborne Division located at Ft. Campbell, Kentucky.

SSG Duplisea was assigned to 1-32 CAV (RSTA) and soon deployed to his 2d tour in Iraq with the 1BCT, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) - again as a senior scout with Blackhorse Troop. Derek was then promoted to Sergeant First Class and took over as the platoon sergeant for 2d platoon, Able Troop with 3 months remaining in the deployment. One week before coming home on a right-seat-ride dismounted patrol, Derek's platoon was hit by a female suicide bomber followed by a complex attack. The suicide bomber detonated 5 feet behind Derek, severely wounding himself, his second in command, 2 of his Soldiers and the relieving Company XO.

Derek spent the next 2 years recovering from his extreme injuries, which included a shattered right femur, a near amputation and completely shattered right arm, burns, nerve damage and a severe traumatic brain injury when a piece of shrapnel penetrated his Advanced Combat Helmet, skull and lodge in his brain.

In July, 2008 SFC Derek Duplisea medically retired from the U.S. Army and started his civilian career with Booz Allen Hamilton as an IED Defeat SME for the XVIII Airborne Corps at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina. After a few months, Derek accepted a position with Raytheon Missile Systems in Tucson, Arizona as their Wounded Warrior Liaison, where he still works to this day.

Derek earned numerous commendations, medals and achievements during his 13 years in the U.S. Army. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for his meritorious service in Iraq with the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) and the Purple Heart Medal for wounds received in combat 16 August, 2006.

Derek also holds an associate degree in Criminal Justice, along with a BS in Criminal Justice- both earned while on Active Duty from Troy University. He is also a candidate for the MBA program at the University of Phoenix- Tucson.

Derek has three wonderful daughters and loves to spend his free time traveling, hiking, camping, hunting, fishing and hanging out with his Boston Terrier, Blue.

WWIA Associates are selected by the Founder based on their commitment and demonstrated potential in helping the WWIA accomplish its mission. All of these heroes are volunteers and exceptional men.