Captain Compton grew up in Boise, Idaho, enlisted in the Navy in 1985 and served onboard the USS Kirk (FF 1087) and the USS Constellation (CV 64) as an Electrician’s Mate.  He graduated from Villanova University in 1994, earned his Naval Aviator wings in 1997 and has flown more than 2500 hours in the UH-3H/VH-3A and MH-60S. 

Sea tours include Command of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron TWENTY FIVE (HSC-25) in Guam, Air Boss on USS Austin (LPD 4) and Squadron tours in Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron TWO (HSC-2) and Helicopter Combat Support Squadron TWO (HC-2) in Norfolk, VA.  Deployments include; Commander of the 2515th Naval Air Ambulance Detachment in Basrah, Iraq, detachments onboard USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20), Bahrain in support of CTF 53, and Naples, Italy in support of SIXTH FLEET and USS La Salle (AGF 3).  

Shore tours include Command of Navy Support Facility Diego Garcia, Operations Officer for Commander Navy Region Southeast, Officer Community Manager for BUPERS 3, Liaison Officer to the National Counter Terrorism Center and Chief of Staff at Defense Intelligence Agency, Defense Combating Terrorism Center, Washington DC, Strategic Policy Officer for Head Quarters, Supreme Allied Command Transformation, in Norfolk, VA, and Fleet Replacement Instructor in the H-3 and MH-60S. 

In May 2021 Captain Compton assumed command of the Naval ROTC Unit at the University of South Carolina.       

Captain Compton earned a Comprehensive Science Degree from Villanova, attended the Joint Forces Staff College and earned a Masters in Strategic Studies from the Naval War College.  

Individual awards include the Legion of Merit (2), Defense Meritorious Service Medal (1), Meritorious Service Medal (3), Air Medal (1 S/F), and Navy Commendation Medal (5).