CAPT Gerald T. Delk grew up in Midland Texas. In 1989, he earned a B.S. degree in Biology and B.A. degree in Chemistry from Southern Methodist University. Subsequent academic achievements include earning both his Doctorate of Medicine (1998) and Master of Business Administration (2009) at the Texas Tech Health Sciences Center, and completion of Emergency Medicine Residency at Ft. Hood, Texas (2001).
Captain Delk served as an emergency medicine physician at Landstuhl Regional Hospital in Germany from 2001 through 2005. In 2002, he deployed to Kosovo and served as the medical director at Camp Bondsteel. In 2003, he mobilized as the battalion surgeon for 1-36 INF, 1st BDE, 1st Armored Division for 15 months in support of OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM. For his actions, Dr. Delk was awarded a Bronze Star, Army Commendation Medal and Combat Medical Badge, and his unit the Presidential Unit Commendation.
After a brief transition to civilian practice for four years, Dr. Delk accepted a direct commission into the United States Navy Reserve in 2010 where he affiliated with 4th Medical Battalion as the OIC for the shock trauma platoon. In 2013, LCDR Delk served as a trauma team leader at the Role 3 in Kandahar, Afghanistan where he cared for over 80 critically injured service members. CDR Delk later served as the intelligence officer, assistance operations officer, and OIC for Heavy Metal (2014) while assigned to 4th Medical Battalion, and subsequently appointed by the Navy Surgeon General as the Emergency Medicine Specialty Leader for the Navy Reserves from June 2014 to 2018.
CDR Delk mobilized for his fourth deployment in 2015 with Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force - Crisis Response - Central Command 16.1. While deployed, he led a combined joint Role II capability that provided medical support for six offensive operations against Da'esh at TF Al Asad. During this time, he directed resuscitation for over 50 casualties while also implementing the first theater wide trauma lecture series coordinating trauma education in the CENTCOM theater.
Upon return, CDR Delk served as the CTF-80 Reserve Fleet Surgeon and requested by USFF to fill critically gapped billets as the THIRD Fleet Surgeon in 2018 and as the SECOND Fleet Surgeon during BALTOPS 2019. While serving as the Reserve Pacific Fleet Surgeon, CAPT Delk was selected by a GO/FO led board and mobilized as the Force Surgeon, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Central Command. CAPT Delk spearheaded the Valkyrie whole blood transfusion program into a program of record for the Service, led medical planning for the Afghanistan Noncombatant Evacuation Operations (NEO), and oversaw medical operations during the COVID pandemic for over 3000 personnel distributed in 21 countries in the CENTCOM AOR.
CAPT Delk currently serves the medical lead for the Operational Level of Warfare (OLW) community for the Navy Reserves. His military education include completion of JPME Phase 1 at the Navy War College (2014), JPME Phase I with distinction at the Marine Command and Staff College (2017), JPME Phase II at Joint Forces Staff College (2018), and the Maritime Staff Operations Course (2019).
Awards include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal (2), Marine and Navy Commendation Medal (2), Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Combat Medical Badge, Fleet Marine Forces Warfare device, and multiple campaign awards (4). Dr. Delk owns and operates four urgent cares, seven free standing emergency rooms, and one family practice in Texas; and ran 16 marathons to include Abbott World Marathon Majors.