CDR Jason Duff, Psy.D., MSN, MS, USN
Commander (CDR) Jason Duff is a native of Philadelphia, PA. Prior to joining the Navy, CDR Duff worked as a nurse, a psychiatric nurse practitioner, and as a college professor at Widener University in Pennsylvania. CDR Duff graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Widener University in 1996. He graduated with a Master of Science in Nursing from Medical College of Pennsylvania (MCP) Hahnemann/Drexel University in 2000. He was credentialed in 2002 by the American Nursing Credentialing Center (ANCC) as a Board Certified Adult Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. He graduated from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine with both a Master of Science in Clinical Psychology degree (2005) and a Doctor of Clinical Psychology degree (2008). CDR Duff completed his Clinical Psychology licensure in August 2010.
CDR Duff began his career in the United States Navy in 2007 after securing the highly competitive Clinical Psychology Internship at the Naval Medical Center San Diego. Upon completion of internship in 2008, he was assigned to Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton. During this tour, he served as Division Officer of Mental Health. He was also the sole mental health provider and consultant to the School of Infantry, West. In September 2010 he deployed as an individual augmentee to Joint Task Force Guantanamo Bay in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Here he served as the Officer-in-Charge, Joint Stress Mitigation & Restoration Team. Many of his initiatives, such as a mental health radio show, continue to this day.
CDR Duff’s subsequent duty station was the U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa in September 2011. While stationed at USNH Okinawa, CDR Duff served as the Division Officer for the Deployment Health Center, the Department Head of Outpatient Mental Health and as the Program Manager for Caregiver Occupational Stress Control. He was also the coordinator for the Mental Health Response Team at USNH Okinawa. CDR Duff hosted the Armed Forces Network mental health talk show in Okinawa called “Shrink Rap” for a listening audience of 55,000. In May 2012, he was selected to represent the U.S. Navy as a mental health subject matter expert during the Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training exercise series between the Royal Thai Navy and the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps in Sattahip, Thailand. He skillfully briefed the Royal Thai Army and Royal Thai Navy on disaster mental health issues. CDR Duff transitioned to serving as the Substance Abuse Rehabilitation Department, Department Head in March 2014.
In October 2014, CDR Duff transferred to Norfolk, VA where he joined the USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT (CVN-71) as the Command Psychologist. He served as the Carrier Strike Group TWELVE (CSG-12) Psychologist during an around the world combat deployment from March 2015 through November 2015. During this deployment CDR Duff qualified as a Surface Warfare Medical Department Officer. In December 2015 following the unprecedented tri-hull swap, CDR Duff transferred to the USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN-73) where he continued to work tirelessly in maintaining and improving the psychological health of his shipmates through engaged leadership and innovative outreach. In November 2016, CDR Duff transferred to Marine Barracks Washington (MBW) and Marine Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-1) where he proudly served as the Presidential Support Program (PSP) Director. In this role he supported the White House, Camp David, and the White House Communications Agency. In addition to his primary responsibility as the PSP Director, CDR Duff supported the ceremonial mission of MBW. He served as a ceremonial host, often operating as a VIP escort or Officer-in-Charge. He greeted and personally escorted thousands of guests and dignitaries during numerous Friday Evening Parades, Sunset Parades, and multiple prestigious military ceremonies.
Since 2017, CDR Duff has been recognized as Adjunct Faculty in the Psychology Department at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. In March 2018 CDR Duff was selected as the Assistant Specialty Leader for Navy Clinical Psychology. In November 2019, CDR Duff began serving as the Naval Special Warfare Group ONE Command Psychologist in Coronado, California. His extensive skill set includes selection and assessment, command consultation, re-deployment support, human factors, executive coaching, and direct operational support. Bringing all those skills to bear served to enhance the warfighting capabilities of NSWG-1. He proved himself to be an invaluable asset in garrison and downrange for NSWG-1 and their 10 subordinate commands and detachments. In November 2021 CDR Duff received Joint Professional Military Education Phase 1 certification after completing the Naval Command & Staff Online Program at the United States Naval War College.
In August 2022, CDR Duff transferred to the United States Naval Academy to serve as the Director of the Midshipmen Development Center (MDC). Under his creative vision and expert guidance as Director, the MDC was recognized by the Princeton Review as #1 in 2023 for “Best Student Support & Counseling Services” in the country. He serves as the Officer Representative for the Naval Academy’s Parachute Team. He serves in a variety of roles around the Academy due to his diverse skillset. CDR Duff was hand selected to represent the United States and the Naval Academy as a liaison with the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency. He personally led a team of Midshipmen to Vietnam in the Summer of 2024 to join a cadre of archaeologists, anthropologists, explosive ordinance disposal experts, foreign military personnel and local civilians working to locate, recover, and identify the remains of U.S. service members killed in action.
He presently serves as the Vice Chair, Psychological Health Operational Clinical Community. In this capacity, he works with the Navy’s clinical community leaders to develop high-quality tools and high reliability organization practices via Navy-wide working groups and subcommittees enhancing knowledge, skills, and abilities for 642 behavioral health specialists to advance Navy Medicine’s Readiness Mission.
CDR Duff is active in the community as a youth sports coach, a volunteer for various mental health awareness events, and guest speaker. In 2017, he started MISSION: POSSIBLE www.missionpossiblephilly.com an annual, music and arts extravaganza primarily intended to raise awareness about cancer support, prevention, and treatment. CDR Duff and his team have raised over $50,000 that directly benefited the Cancer Support Community Greater Philadelphia. He has also used this platform to highlight the importance of self-care and prioritizing psychological health.
CDR Duff’s decorations include the Presidential Service Badge, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (4 Gold Stars), Joint Meritorious Unit Commendation, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Battle E, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (1 Bronze Star), Navy & Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon (2 Bronze Stars), Navy Rifle Expert Qualification Ribbon, & the Navy Pistol Expert Qualification Ribbon.
