Born and raised in Canton, NY, CAPT Merrill entered the Navy ROTC program at the University
of Colorado in Boulder in 1975. Completing an undergraduate degree in mathematics and commissioning in 1979, he entered the US Navy’s nuclear power pipeline. After completing training, he was assigned to the USS NATHANAEL GREENE (Blue) in January of 1981, serving in turn as the engineering department as an electrical office, reactor controls assistant, and main propulsion assistant and qualifying in submarine warfare and was certified as engineering department head officer by Naval Reactors.
Assigned to Navy Recruiting Area One in 1984, he served as the nuclear-trained officer supporting the Nuclear Power Officer Candidate program by interviewing applicants and assisting their accession into the nuclear program. Departing active duty in 1986, CAPT Merrill entered the naval reserve and changed his career field from submarine warfare to naval intelligence. In his civilian career, he was employed as a defense contractor supporting US development of various satellite programs and early warning systems. In 1994, he completed a master’s in aerospace engineering at the University of Colorado. As a reservist, CAPT Merrill supported US Space Command, Office of Naval Intelligence, and was activated in support of operations DESERT STORM (1990 – 1991) and DENY FLIGHT/DELIBERATE FORCE (1995) and to Joint Special Operations Command (1999). Offered the opportunity to return to full-time active service, CAPT Merrill accepted orders to Keflavik, Iceland as the J2/N2 in 2001. CAPT Merrill received follow-on orders to NATO’s COMNAVSOUTH Naples, Italy, and the Office of Naval Intelligence in Suitland, MD. CAPT Merrill completed attaché training and was assigned as the US Naval attaché to the US embassy in Seoul, Korea (2009 – 2012). Retiring in 2013, CAPT Merrill settled in Boise, Idaho, and has worked part-time in education and as an estimator for a construction company.
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