Jeff Drinkard

USN SEAL

Captain Jeff Drinkard was born in Montgomery Alabama in 1966 and raised in St. Charles Missouri. He graduated from Northeast Missouri State University in 1988 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Science. He was commissioned an Ensign in March 1989 after graduation from Officer Candidate School, Newport Rhode Island.

Captain Drinkard graduated Basic Underwater Demolition / SEAL (BUD/S) training in 1989, Class 163. His assignments in Naval Special Warfare include Assistant Platoon Commander at SEAL Delivery Vehicle TEAM ONE, Platoon Commander at SEAL TEAM THREE, Phase Three Officer In Charge at BUD/S, MK V Detachment Commander and Operations Officer at Special Boat TEAM TWELVE, Future Plans Officer at Special Operations Command Korea, Executive Officer at SEAL TEAM FIVE, Operations Officer at Naval Special Warfare Command, Deputy Commander, Combined/Joint Special Operations Task Force-Arabian Peninsula. Captain Drinkard served as Commanding Officer, Special Boat TEAM TWELVE, received his Master’s Degree at the U.S. Army War College, and served as the Future Ops Division Chief, and multiple Branch Chief positions in the Current Ops Division at USSOCOM.

His service decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, two Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medals, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and various campaign and unit awards.

Captain Drinkard is married (30 years) to the former Sherry Franklin of San Diego California. A 12 year elementary school teacher in San Diego, she is now teaching locally in Tampa. The Drinkards currently live in Tampa Florida and are the proud parents of Clayton (24), Connor (21), and Kaelynn (17).