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Lieutenant Commander (LCdr) Derek Niles joined the Royal Canadian Navy as a Regular Force Naval Warfare Officer in 1996 in London, ON under the Regular Officer Training Program.  Graduating from the Royal Military College of Canada in 2000 (Mechanical Engineering), then after completing Naval Warfare Officer training with distinction in 2001, he became a member of the Fleet, joining his first operational ship, Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship CALGARY on the West Coast.

With his Bridge Watchkeeping Certificate and Naval Officer Professional Qualification in 2003 he was deployed to Operation APOLLO in the Arabian Gulf as CALGARY’s Boarding Officer.  On returning from deployment, he was subsequently posted to Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship TORONTO on the East Coast.

On TORONTO, he participated in a Great Lakes Deployment, having the honour of being the first to navigate a Halifax Class frigate beyond the Welland Canal and the first Canadian warship to sail to Chicago, Illinois since 1959.  In addition, he also deployed to Hurricane Katrina relief efforts in August 2005 as part of the Canadian Task Force.  In late 2005, LCdr Niles released from the Regular Force and commenced his civilian career.

He re-enrolled in the Naval Reserve with Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship PREVOST in 2010 and in 2012, was awarded his ORCA Class Patrol Vessel Command endorsement.  Since then has since participated in many ORCA deployments and has held all Head of Department positions, including the Executive Officer appointment, at PREVOST prior to his assumption of Command in June 2019. 

In addition to his RCN experience, LCdr Niles has been a Maritime Search and Rescue Coordinator with the Canadian Coast Guard, has experience managing training for the Ontario Division of the RCMP, holds a commercial Transport Canada Certificate of Competency as Master, and operates a specialized marine services business in the Great Lakes.  He currently resides in St. Thomas, Ontario with his wife, Misty and two sons, Josh and Cameron.