Sergeant Major Degtyar enlisted in the Marine Corps on 2 February 2001 and reported for Recruit Training on 12 February 2001 at Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, California. Upon graduation, Private First Class Degtyar completed Marine Combat Training at Camp Pendleton, California. He then attended Automotive Maintenance Technician School at Camp Johnson, North Carolina. Upon completion of his Military Occupational Specialty school, he reported to Marine Air Control Squadron 23 where he held billets as an Automotive Maintenance Technician, Maintenance Chief, and Platoon Sergeant.
In May of 2006, Corporal Degtyar was mobilized with a detachment of Marines from Marine Air Control Squadron 23 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was subsequently promoted to a Sergeant and deployed with 4th Civil Affairs Group as a Civil Affairs Noncommissioned Officer. During this tour he was attached to Weapons Company 3rd Battalion 4th Marines at Al Qaim, Al Anbar province, Iraq. Sergeant Degtyar advised the battlespace commander on civil-military operations and was responsible for oversight and administration of the Commander’s Emergency Response Program in the designated area of operation.
In May of 2007, Sergeant Degtyar returned to Marine Air Control Squadron 23. He served as the Platoon Sergeant and a Platoon Commander. Upon his promotion to Staff Sergeant in July of 2010, Staff Sergeant Degtyar served as the Squadron Motor Transport Maintenance Chief.
In September of 2012 Staff Sergeant Degtyar was attached to Headquarters and Service Company, Combat Logistic Battalion 453 where he held billets of a Maintenance Chief and Company Gunnery Sergeant. He was promoted to Gunnery Sergeant in September of 2014 and continued to serve as the Company Gunnery Sergeant.
In December of 2016, Gunnery Sergeant Degtyar transferred to 6th Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company where he held billets of a Platoon Sergeant and Company Gunnery Sergeant.
Gunnery Sergeant Degtyar was promoted to the rank of First Sergeant in April of 2018. He served as the Company First Sergeant of Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment from May 2018 to May 2021.
In June of 2021 he reported to Battery Q, 5th Battalion, 14th Marines as the Battery First Sergeant. First Sergeant Degtyar was selected to Sergeant Major in March of 2022
Sergeant Major Degtyar assumed his current duties as Squadron Sergeant Major for Marine Air Control Squadron 24 in Virginia Beach, Virginia in June 2022.
Sergeant Major Degtyar’s personal awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with three gold stars, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Selected Marine Corps Reserve Medal (6th award), Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with ‘M’ and Bronze Hour Glass devices) Expert Rifle Qualification (8th Award), Expert Pistol Qualification (2nd Award).
Sergeant Major Degtyar is a Senior Vice President, Operational Risk Oversight Director at Wells Fargo Bank. He holds a B.A. in Business Administration with an emphasis in Finance from Regis University. He resides in Denver, Colorado.