Mr. Wilkins was born and raised in Harvard, Illinois and is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy. He and his family moved to the Gallatin Valley in 2016 after serving over 20 years in the U.S. Navy. Mr. Wilkins was the Director of Federal Services for Century Companies, Inc., based in Lewistown, Montana, until 2018 and then began working for Bridger Aerospace as the Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, and President of Operations until 2023. Darren and his wife, Kerri, have two sons. Mr. Wilkins has served as a Trustee for the Central Valley Fire District since 2023.