Derek Abbey found himself in Corvallis through the United States Marine Corps. Selected for a commissioning program after enlisting, he was sent to OSU to earn a bachelor's degree. Upon graduating, he became a ground officer and was chosen for an aviation contract. After serving 23 years, Derek retired as a major in 2014. He has dedicated his post-military career to furthering veterans' programs. As the president & CEO of Project Recover — a nonprofit bringing missing-in-action fallen soldiers home — Derek is giving closure to grieving families. Amongst this, his dedication to OSU remains strong; he is an avid champion of OSU veterans' projects, a frequent supporter of the OSUAA and a volunteer with the Beaver wrestling program.