Vice Commander

Waylan Keith Shropshire of Idalou, Texas was born in 1960 the only child of Leonard R. and Mary Shropshire. He is a graduate of University of Phoenix (Bachelor of Science in Business / Management and Master of Business Administration).

Enlisting in the United States Navy in June of 1978, Waylan served as a Missile Technician, advancing through the ranks to Chief Petty Officer.

Waylan served tours onboard USS Sam Houston (SSBN / SSN 609) (A3 missile and slow attack operations), USS Nathanael Greene (SSBN 636) (C3 missile), Pre-Commissioning (PCU) and USS Alaska (SSBN 732) (C4 missile), PCU and USS West Virginia (SSBN 736) (D5 missile), and USS Ulysses S. Grant (SSBN 631) (C3 missile). While serving aboard these units, Waylan completed ten (10) strategic deterrent patrols, and was a key player in the launch of 13 test missiles. Following his sea tour, he reported to Trident Training Facility, Kings Bay, Georgia for instructor duty, where he served as Leading Chief Petty Officer and Lead Instructor for Strategic Weapons System Team Training and received his designation as Master Training Specialist (MTS). Waylan received a commission to Chief Warrant Officer on 01 Jun 1994.

Waylan reported to USS Doyle (FFG 39), homeported in Mayport, Florida, as the Electronics Readiness Officer / Electronics Materials Officer in Aug 1994. During this assignment, he participated in Mediterranean, Caribbean, Atlantic / Pacific drug enforcement operations, Black Sea operations, Persian Gulf cruises, and 12 Standard Missile Launch Exercises. Following this tour, Waylan reported to the Strategic Systems Programs Program Management Office in Sunnyvale, California in Jul 1996 where he served as Fleet Liaison Officer (FLO) for the Missile and Launcher Subsystems of the Strategic Weapons System.

Waylan retired from the United States Navy after 21 years dedicated and loyal service on 01 Mar 1999. He began his service as a member of the enlisted community rising to the rank of Chief Warrant Officer Two. During his service he earned the Enlisted Submarine Breast Insignia and the Fleet Ballistic Missile deterrent patrol pin with two silver stars and one bronze star. He was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal with one gold star, Navy Good Conduct Medal with three bronze stars, National Defense Medal with one bronze star, Navy Expeditionary Medal, Artic Service Ribbon and the Sea Service Ribbon with a silver star.

Waylan’s second career started as a Systems Engineer for General Dynamics Mission Systems in Pittsfield, Massachusetts providing Fleet support for the SSBN Fire Control System. After two winters in New England, Waylan joined the Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company team in the Strategic Missile Program in Feb 2001 at Strategic Weapons Facility, Pacific as a Field Engineering Site Representative for Naval Submarine Support Center, Commander, Submarine Squadron Seventeen / Nineteen and Trident Training Facility at Bangor, Washington. In Oct 2011, Waylan transferred to New London, Connecticut to work on the nation’s new ballistic missile submarine program known as SSBN Replacement. He was a Senior Staff Systems Engineer in the Common Missile Compartment Systems Engineering, Integration & Test (SEIT) organization. Waylan retired from LM Space in Aug 2020.

Waylan joined Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc. (SPA) in Sep 2020 as a Program Analyst in the Strategic Division (SD) / Strategic Development Group (SDG) and is responsible for supporting United States Navy Strategic Systems Programs (SSP), Missile Branch (SP27).

Waylan is married to the former Diane Daney of Muster, IN. They have three children, Megan (West Allis, WI), Alexandra, (Bremerton, WA) and Caleb (Franklinton, NC). Waylan also has a daughter Nicholle in Ledyard, CT.

wkshrops732@gmail.com