Commander Drew Peters is a native of Owasso, OK. Following a tour in the Oklahoma Air National Guard as a Security Policeman from 1992-1995, he served as a Nuclear Electrician’s Mate and Nuclear Prototype Instructor before earning a NROTC scholarship and graduating from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering. He commissioned in May of 2001 and, after completing initial flight training, he was designated a Naval Flight Officer in July 2002. CDR Peters went on to earn initial qualification in the P-3C Orion at the "Pro’s Nest" of VP-30 in March 2003.
In April 2003, CDR Peters joined the "Golden Swordsmen" VP-47 for his first operational tour in the P-3C Orion with follow-on tours in the SP-3 and P-3C with the VPU-2 "Wizards" and VP-9 "Golden Eagles" in Kaneohe, HI. His final operational tour was as Officer-in Charge of the FSU-10 "Aliens" and Model Manager for the APS-149 Littoral Surveillance Radar System (LSRS) flown on P-3C BMUP aircraft. Operationally, CDR Peters has deployed around the globe supporting Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom as well as routine and contingency operations in U.S. INDOPACOM, U.S. CENTCOM, and U.S EUCOM AORs between 2003 and 2021.
Ashore, CDR Peters served as a Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) at CPRW-2 Weapons and Tactics Unit (WTU), N8 executive assistant at U.S. Pacific Fleet, Operations Officer at CPRW-10, and finally served two tours as National Reconnaissance Office’s Senior Engagement Representative to the Pacific Northwest and Alaska during which he educated and trained all DoD and Federal Agency personnel in his AOR on the use of space based ISR systems in their mission sets. In October 2023, CDR Peters reported to TRAWING 6 where he currently serves as Chief Staff Officer.
CDR Peters has accumulated 2850 flight-hours, 197 combat sorties, 1200 combat flight-hours, and holds WTI, ISR Warden, and Mission Commander qualifications in both the P-3C and SP-3. He was awarded the CNAF Peer Leadership Award in 2014. His personal decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal (5 awards), Naval Commendation Medal (4 awards), Naval Achievement Medal, and Air Force Achievement Medal along with various campaign, service, and unit awards.