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Midshipmen Development Center

CDR Jason Duff, Psy.D., MSN, MS, USN

CDR_Duff_NSWG1_5x7_uncovered.jpgCommander (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 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, CDR Duff was assigned to Camp Pendleton. During his tour, CDR Duff worked at the Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton where he served as Division Officer and as 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 (JSMART). 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 both 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 Marine Barracks Washington. CDR Duff 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. In November 2021 CDR Duff received Joint Professional Military Education (JPME) Phase 1 certification after completing the Naval Command & Staff Online Program at the United States Naval War College. CDR Duff is currently taking classes at the College of Executive Coaching and is working towards certification in Executive & Leadership Coaching. 


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, CDR Duff started MISSION: POSSIBLE, an annual, music and arts extravaganza intended to raise awareness about cancer support, prevention, and treatment. In three short years, CDR Duff and his team have raised $36,000 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.

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