Commander

Captain Deniston is a native of Carbondale Illinois and graduated from Southern Illinois University – Carbondale (SIU-C) in 1989 with a BA in Psychology.  He completed his MA in 1993 and his Ph.D. in 1997 in experimental psychology at SIU-C.  He was commissioned in 1996 as a Naval Officer in the Medical Service Corps as a Research Psychologist.

His first duty station was at Naval Health Research Center (NHRC) in San Diego, where he focused on operational medical research as an investigator and the first program manager for the Field Medical Technologies Department.

In 2001 Deniston reported to Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center, San Diego.  There he led the medical data surveillance system (MDSS) in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and at operational and medical commands worldwide. He reported to the Office of Naval Research (ONR) in 2004. There he served as Deputy Director, Neural, Cognitive, and Social Science & Technology Division and was selected as the deputy of the Department of the Navy Human Research Protections Program Working Group.

In 2007 Deniston reported to the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery (BUMED) as the deputy director of the newly established Department of the Navy Human Research Protection Program, providing oversight and monitoring of human subject research protocols.  In 2010 he reported to the Office of the Naval Inspector General as the Assistant Inspector General for Command Climate Evaluation.

In 2012 Deniston returned to BUMED as Program Manager, Deployment Mental Health Research in the Wounded Ill and Injured (WII–M9).  In May of 2013 he appointed as Strategic Integration for WII/M9.  From September - December 2013, he served as Acting Director, DON HRPP concurrently with his WII/M9 responsibilities.  In December 2013 he was appointed as Director, DON HRPP where he was responsible for the oversight and monitoring of all human subject research in the Navy and Marine Corps and DON sponsored extramural institutions.

In June 2017 Deniston reported to Naval Medical Research Center in Silver Spring, Maryland as Executive Officer. NMRC oversees seven subordinate commands, three outside the U.S. After his successful tour at NMRC, he assumed Command of NHRC, the DoD's premier deployment health research center. Currently Deniston is serving as Commander of NMRC.

Deniston's personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal (6 awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (4 awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal (6 awards).