Lieutenant Colonel Darrell Fawley commissioned as an Infantry Officer in May 2005 upon graduation from the United States Military Academy. His first assignment was with 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, from 2006 to 2008 where he served as a rifle and heavy weapons platoon leader and deployed to Yusifiyah, Iraq, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Upon return from Iraq, LTC Fawley attended Maneuver Captains Career Course at Fort Benning, GA, and remained there serving as a platoon trainer for Infantry Basic Officer Leader Course in 2nd Battalion, 11th Infantry Regiment.

In December 2010, LTC Fawley took command of Company C, 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment at Fort Lewis, WA, and in December 2011 he took command of HHC, 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, later deploying the company to Zangabad, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom from March-December of 2012. Upon relinquishing command, LTC Fawley assumed duties as an assistant professor of military science at Ohio University, in Athens, OH from 2013-2015. He then attended the Command and General Staff Officers Course at Fort Leavenworth, KS as an Art of War Scholar, and followed this with attendance at the School of Advanced Military Studies (SAMS).

Upon completion of SAMS in May 2017, LTC Fawley was assigned as a future operation planner for 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, GA, and in Afghanistan. Upon return from Afghanistan, he was assigned as the executive officer for 3rd Battalion 67th Armor Regiment from July 2018 to January 2019. And then as the Brigade Executive Officer for 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division. He deployed to Poland in February 2020 in support of the DEFENDER 2020 exercise and later Operation Atlantic Resolve. In June 2020, LTC Fawley became the Professor of Military Science at Ohio University.

LTC Fawley's military training and education includes Ranger School, Airborne School, Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leader Course, Air Assault School, Bradley Leader Course, Sniper Employment Leader Course, and Heavy Weapons Leader Course. His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, and Meritorious Service Medal (2 OLC), the Combat Infantryman Badge and the Expert Infantryman Badge. He holds degrees from the United States Military Academy, Command and General Staff College, and Ohio University.