One Enlistment turns into a Lifetime of Service for Col. Kristin Derda

After more than 34 years of military service, Col. Kristin Derda could have thanked thousands of people she had met throughout her storied military career. But during her retirement remarks, she recognized the three people she called her world: her children - Dominik, Emilia and Maksymilian.

“You are my world and I love you guys,” she told them.

A packed house gathered at the Pierce County Readiness Center on Oct. 17, 2026, to honor Derda’s career and the family whose love and support had carried her through it. For the Washington Military Department’s joint chief of staff, the celebration was an opportunity to thank the people who had shared the sacrifices behind every assignment.

“Colonel Derda, you have led soldiers, commanded formations, and helped shape an institution, But if you ask me, one of the greatest accomplishments is raising the three children you have supported throughout your career who give you such pride,” said recently retired Brig. Gen. Michael Ake, former Washington Army National Guard land component commander.

Derda selected Ake, one of her Officer Candidate School instructors, to preside over the ceremony.

“You were here when I started my career and you’re here to help close out my officer career, and I appreciate that,” said Derda.

Derda’s career included 32 years in the National Guard, a combat deployment to Iraq, command at the company, battalion and brigade levels, and senior positions supporting the Washington National Guard’s state and federal missions.

“What was supposed to be one enlistment became 34 years of friendship, challenges, learning, and service to our state and nation,” Derda said.

Born at Fort Ord, California, Derda grew up across Washington state before enlisting in the Army in 1992, four days after graduating from Washington High School, hoping military service would help her afford college.

A recruiter who had helped her change a flat tire in her high school parking lot had left her his business card.

“That turned out to be a very consequential flat tire,” said Derda.

She began her career as a material handling specialist, operating forklifts, and served on active duty before returning to Washington to join the Army National Guard and continue her education. Her initial plan was to complete her military obligation, earn her degree and build a civilian career in the mortgage industry.

Over time, she came to appreciate the experience Guard members brought from their civilian careers, their ingenuity and their commitment to balancing military and civilian responsibilities. With her degree nearly complete, she decided to become an officer.

“Without quite realizing when it happened, I’d fallen in love with the National Guard more than I’d ever imagined,” said Derda.

Following her commissioning as an ordnance officer in September 1999, Derda began her officer career with the 951st Ordnance Maintenance Company and later served with the 941st Personnel Service Battalion. She helped mobilize units from the 96th Troop Command to Iraq before volunteering to deploy with the 898th Engineer Battalion as the 81st Enhanced Separate Brigade in 2004.

From February 2004 to February 2005, she served as a battle captain in the Joint Defense Operations Center in Balad, Iraq.

“You did not wait for someone else to step forward,” said Ake. “You saw a need, recognized a mission, and answered the call.”

For Derda, the deployment brought difficult days alongside moments of friendship and humor that helped soldiers carry on.

“I learned that leadership means showing up, especially when the situation is uncertain,” she said. “I learned to lean on my friends, and I learned just how resourceful the Washington National Guard could be.”

After returning, Derda left the mortgage industry for full-time National Guard service as an active Guard member.

She commanded Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 81st Brigade Special Troops Battalion, and served in recruiting, retention and personnel management assignments. In 2015 she took command of the 181st Brigade Support Battalion, 81st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, the first of two battalion commands. The other occurred in 2019 when she took command of the Recruiting and Retention Battalion. Reflecting on recruiting and retention, Derda credited her team with moving Washington from the bottom of the 54 states and territories to the top.

“That success belongs to a team built on trust, empowered leaders, clear expectations, and accountability,” she said.

Her later assignments included being the director of Joint Operations, commander of the 96th Troop Command and 10th Homeland Response Force, and finishing her storied career as the Joint Chief of Staff for the Washington Military Department.

“You repeatedly accepted the responsibility to lead, to prepare soldiers, to solve difficult problems, and to leave the organization stronger than you found it,” said Ake.

For Derda the path wasn’t always smoothly paved and thanked the mentors who challenged her, the peers who supported her and the soldiers and airmen whose candor helped her become a better leader.

“I didn’t always get it right,” she said. “You helped me understand what my decisions looked like when the work was actually happening and you gave me a chance to adjust.”

She also recognized the family and friends who helped her and her husband, balance two military careers, continuing education, and their children’s schoolwork and sports.

“To my parents, my godparents, and Krystian’s parents, thank you for coming at a moment’s notice to care for our children,” said Derda. “Knowing that they were safe and loved allowed us to focus on our mission.”

Watching Dominik and Emilia leave for college, with Maksymilian still in high school, helped inspire her decision to retire and devote more time to the children she considers her “most prized treasures.”

“You shared us with this organization through missed school events, games, birthdays, and celebrations,” said Derda. “We asked you to be responsible and look after one another and become independent sometimes earlier than we should have. You made sacrifices you didn’t choose and I see that and I appreciate it.”

As she prepared to close her military career, Derda promised her children more time together.

“I love you more than I can say and I’m ready to give back my time to you.”

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