Lieutenant Commander Dan Stayton is a native of Huntsville, Alabama. A Surface Warfare Officer, he is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy. He earned his Master of Business Administration in Financial Management from Naval Postgraduate School.

Stayton’s Division Officer tours were aboard STEPHEN W. GROVES (FFG 29) and CARNEY (DDG 64) where he served as the ship’s Combat Information Center Officer and Navigator, respectively. As a Department Head, he served consecutive tours aboard THE SULLIVANS (DDG 68) as the Weapons Officer and Combat Systems Officer. He has completed 5 deployments to the C6F and C5F areas of responsibility.

Ashore, Stayton attended the Naval Post-graduate School and taught Seamanship and Navigation at the United States Naval Academy. He was also the course coordinator for the Surface Warfare Officer capstone course.

In November 2020, Stayton became the 2nd Tour Department Head Detailer and Early Command Detailer for PERS-41 at Navy Personnel Command in Millington, Tennessee.

Personal awards include the Navy & Marine Corps Commendation Medal (four awards) and the Navy Achievement Medal (two awards).

Dan and his wife Sarah have three children, Oliver, 9, Sawyer, 7, and Eleanor, 5.