Navy senior chief and nuclear missile technician Derrick Rende has been in Lake Nona for one year after his home port became Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. In his current day-to-day position, he is responsible for missile technician training and inspections for U.S. ballistic missile submarines. His extensive history of service depicts a man of honor and heroism.

With most of his career split between Jacksonville and Orlando, with pit stops in Washington, D.C., and Seattle, Rende has spent his life with an innate passion for serving others and working by the sea. He joined the service in 2001, three weeks after 9/11. Eighteen years and countless deployments later, Rende continues to serve a fulfilling career and has accomplished a great deal throughout the past 39 years of his life – and this isn’t the end of the road for him. 

Rende’s many accomplishments include a multitude of feats rare and honorable. He earned his bachelor of science degree from Embry-Riddle University while still in the Navy. He is no stranger to deployments, having been on three six-month deployments in the Pacific Theater, seven strategic deterrent patrols, and 15 diplomatic deployments in the Russian Federation. He is a recipient of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) service member of the year award as well. In terms of achievements, Rende said, “Becoming a new dad is pretty high on the list, too!”

Rende also most recently found himself on the U.S.S. Michigan, which is forward-deployed out of Guam. He has had the opportunity to be stationed twice on the U.S.S. Tennessee in King’s Bay, Georgia, and served for three years at the DTRA in Washington, D.C., as a nuclear weapons inspector focused on U.S./Russia relations and the new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START). “I was initially enthralled with the idea of becoming a rescue swimmer – but come to find out, you have to be a really good swimmer!” Rende told me.

He decided to pursue the route presented to him at the time: becoming a nuclear weapons specialist on submarines. Since then, Rende’s experience on submarines has grown and his arsenal of anecdotes has grown as well. He endured a tsunami while coming home from a six-month deployment, his plane grounded in Siberia with nothing to eat but meat pies for five consecutive days, and he’s missed countless holidays, birthdays and special occasions due to long stretches of being under the sea with limited ability to communicate. “One thing I’ve learned from 18 years in the Navy is that things never go quite as planned,” he said.

Rende’s familiarity with distance and isolated work make working during COVID-19 a plausible feat as his mindset during submarine stays allows him to adapt to unpredictable circumstances. Working from home isn’t possible for his line of classified work, and a 75-mile travel restriction ensures that he and his family are staying nearby for the time being. As a new father, the silver lining of COVID-19 is how he’s permitted to be home for his son’s first few months of life, rather than training and inspecting boats at sea.

Outside of the Navy, Rende greatly enjoys the local sports scene by rooting for the Jacksonville Jaguars and Florida Gators. He has passions for several other above-water activities as well, including the following: golf, real estate, visiting Key West, and spending time with his family. Of course, this well-rounded man enjoys sunlight and Internet access after long periods of time under the sea.

“After 18 years, I’m fortunate to have achieved my career goals in the Navy and have only three years left until retirement. I’m looking forward to transitioning to civilian life and starting a second career,” Rende said. He is considering going into real estate or the defense industry on the Space Coast. Whatever the decision may be, Rende and his wife, Sarah, and their new baby boy, Jordan, plan to stick around in Florida as Cape Canaveral is his final duty station. 

Derrick Rende is well-acquainted with heroism and high-risk positions of skill and significance. Lake Nona is fortunate to have him along with his invaluable expertise and service, and he and his family are just one more wonderful piece of our community.

Photos Courtesy of Derrick Rende