TSIA Careers

Upon graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy, Dave served in the U.S. Navy for 5 years of active duty as a nuclear submarine officer aboard two different fleet ballistic missile submarines. To this day, one of Dave’s proudest moments was representing our fine country while wearing the Navy blue and gold uniform.

I served in the USMC (United States Marine Corps) from August 1989 to August 1993.

My primary MOS was 6046 Aviation Maintenance Administration and Secondary MOS was 6199, Aerial Observer.

I was awarded a Naval Achievement Medal for developing a computerized maintenance system for tracking of life limited components on helicopters. This computer program reduced the amount of faulty addition and subtraction and improved the safety of aircraft maintenance. In the 1990’s this was a big thing as our Squadron had only a few computers. For junior officers and enlisted personnel whose professional and/or leadership achievements on or after 1 May 1961, are clearly of a superlative nature. Originally designed for recognition of non-combat professional and/or leadership achievements, the Navy Achievement Medal may now also be presented for combat valor, to members of the Navy or Marine Corps. It holds the same level of precedence as the Achievement Medals of the Army, Air Force and Coast Guard.

Spent 30 months of my 48 months enlistment deployed (normally you only deploy for 12 to 18 months in a 4-year enlistment).

During my time of service, I deployed to:

Okinawa Japan from April 1990 to September 1990 

Subic Bay Philippines from September 1990 to April 1991 

Set sail on the USS Peleliu from May 1991 to November 1991 (Crossed the Equator and became a Shellback after participating in the Wog Day Ceremony)

Set sail on the USS Tarawa from August 1992 to March 1993

Places traveled for military service were:

US – Anchorage, AK

US – Phoenix, AZ

US – Yuma, AZ

US – 29 Palms, CA

US – San Diego, CA

US – San Francisco, CA

US – El Paso, TX

US – Meridian, MS

US – Pearl Harbor, HI

US – Waikiki Beach, HI

Mazatlán Mexico

Juarez Mexico

Guam

Wake Island

Midway Island

Okinawa Japan

Cebu Philippines

Manilla Philippines

Subic Bay Philippines

Singapore, Malaysia

Bangkok Thailand

Phuket Thailand

Kowloon Hong Kong

Mogadishu Somalia

Mombasa Kenya

Muscat Oman

Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates

Dubai United Arab Emirates

Manama Bahrain

Saudi Arabia (Aerial operations over land)

Kuwait (Aerial operations over land)

Commander Fulkerson is a native of Missouri. He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington in 1993 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. He then enlisted in the Navy in October of 1995 as a Cryptologic Technician Interpretive. He completed his “A” school at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California and completed his “C” school cryptologic training at Goodfellow Air Force Base. He was then assigned to Naval Security Group Activity (NSGA) Medina in San Antonio Texas from 1997-1999.

While on active duty, at NSGA Medina, he earned a Master of Arts degree in Public Administration from Webster University in 1999. He departed active duty for the Individual Ready Reserve as a Cryptologic Technician Interpretive Second Class in November of 1999. Hearing the call to serve his country, he returned to the United States Navy Reserve as a Commissioned Cryptologic Warfare Officer through the Direct Commission Officer program in March of 2005 and was again stationed in San Antonio at the renamed Navy Information Operations Command (NIOC) Texas.

His sea tour includes the Trident Warrior exercise in 2009 where he served as Operations Testing Officer, USS Nassau (LHA4). As a Lieutenant, he was mobilized in August of 2010 to serve in Operation Enduring Freedom where he served as the Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of Signals Intelligence for Joint Special Operations Task Force Trans-Sahara supporting Special Operations Command Africa (SOCAFRICA) and also as the Battle Watch Captain during OPERATION ODYSSEY DAWN.

He is a 2018 graduate of the U.S. Naval War College earning his Master of Arts in National Defense and Strategic Studies and a Master Certificate in Ethics and Emerging Military Technology.

His personal decorations include the Information Warfare Insignia, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy Commendation Medal (three awards), Joint Service Achievement Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (four awards), Navy Good Conduct Medal and various campaign, unit and service awards.

He is the VP, Customer Success Research for the Technology & Services Industry Association (TSIA). A Rhode Island resident, CDR Fulkerson is happily married to his wife Katy and has two daughters.

I served in the California Air National Guard from 2009 to 2015, as a Battlefield Meteorologist. Over six years of services I provided weather forecast and atmospheric analysis in support of Army Infantry Troops, Army Helicopter Squadrons, and Air Force Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). I achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant.

Navy for 21 years, Surface Warfare Officer, retired as a Captain.

Served my time as a cannon crewmember/infantryman from Feb 2007 – Feb 2013 Served in OIF (Operation Iraqi Freedom) between 2008 – 2009 as a gunner, combat/tactical driver, and squad leader, where our unit provided convoy security escort for allied military forces such as the airforce, from Buehring, Kuwaiit, to Mosul, Iraq. Honorably discharged from the army as a Sergeant.