Daniel and Kimberley grew up in the AASD. Daniel attended elementary at Jefferson and Richmond, Kimberley at Lincoln and Johnston. They both attended Madison Middle School and Appleton East where their story together begins. They were both lifeguards at Mead Pool in the summers and spent countless hours lifeguarding and teaching swimming lessons at Mead, Appleton West, and Appleton East pools. It was during a certification course for teaching swimming lessons that brought them together officially in November 2004.

Daniel graduated in 2005 and went to the University of Wisconsin-Platteville where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering with a minor in Mathematics. Kimberley graduated high school in 2006 and also attended UW-Platteville earning her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. After graduation, Daniel went to Officer Candidate School in Rhode Island for the US Navy. He was commissioned in April 2010. Kimberley finished her degree in May 2010 and the couple moved to Northern California to start their lives as a US Navy family. Daniel began his career as the Assistant Resident Officer in Charge of Construction for Travis Air Force Base. Kimberley began her career in Human Resources for Moor + South/Pier Management Company (PIER 39) in San Francisco, CA. During this time, they also got married.

Two years later, they made their way to Southern California where Daniel deployed with the Seabees in Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 4 to Djibouti, Africa. Kimberley continued her career in Human Resources with the City of Ventura. Following that tour, the Navy offered to move them to Hawaii and they both jumped at the offer. Daniel went on to work with the Navy SEALS while Kimberley transitioned her career to the federal level, working for NAVFAC Pacific and NAVFAC Hawaii simultaneously.

After two years enjoying the sun and beaches, the Navy sent Daniel to Graduate School at the University of Texas at Austin. It was here that the couple welcomed their first child, Silas Eldred, in May of 2017. Kimberley continued to work remotely for NAVFAC during that year.

Following Grad School, they made their way to Washington DC where they would stay for a full three years, the longest they have lived in one place since graduation from AASD. In DC, Daniel worked for CNIC as well as becoming the Admiral’s Aide. He earned his second Master’s Degree during this time as well. Kimberley enjoyed her time as a stay-at-home mom raising their son and the couple welcomed their daughter, Mykelti Eldred, in April 2019.

In October 2020, the Eldred family made the move to Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia. They all absolutely loved their time overseas and speak very fondly of the two-and-a-half years they spent exploring Australia and Asia. Unfortunately, their time was cut short as their daughter, Mykelti, was diagnosed with Stage IV/V Diffuse Anaplastic Wilms Tumor. The couple made the devastating decision to send Kimberley and Mykelti back to the United States to seek care at St. Jude in Memphis, Tennessee.

Daniel and Silas would later join them when Daniel took over as the Executive Officer (XO) of NMCB 11 in Gulfport, MS. Mykelti would undergo a full left nephrectomy (kidney removal) and partial right nephrectomy. She also underwent 13 rounds of radiation to her entire abdomen and 112 doses of chemotherapy over 14 months. The entire family is so thankful to St. Jude and the people of Memphis for taking such great care of Mykelti and helping her make a full recovery! As of February 2025, she is one full year cancer free and doing amazingly well! Ten days following Kimberley and Mykelti’s return home from treatment, Daniel deployed to Rota, Spain with NMCB 11. He spent six months there and returned home in August 2024. He was meritoriously promoted to Commander (O5) in October 2024 right before the couple celebrated 20 years of being together!

Daniel and Kimberley continue to enjoy life and find happiness together even in the darkest of days. Daniel will continue his service with the US Navy when the family moves to Kings Bay, Georgia this spring. They are looking forward to being closer to swimmable beaches while the kids are excited to be closer to Disney World!

The couple is so thankful for their days in the AASD which has set them up for success in life and their respective careers. They are even more thankful that their story got to start so early on, maximizing the time they get to spend together in life!