Lieutenant Junior Grade Dwain Scruggs Jr., is a native of Albany, Oregon, and graduated from South Albany High School in 1983. He enlisted in the Navy shortly after graduation and reported for recruit training at Recruit Training Command San Diego, California, in October 1983, where he received the Navy League's Outstanding Recruit Award. In April 1984 he completed training for Aviation Machinists Mate at Naval Air Maintenance Training Group Detachment (NAMTRAGRUDET), Naval Air Station (NAS) Oceana, Virginia. He then reported to the Fighter Squadron 101 (VF 101) "Grim Reapers" at NAS Oceana for training in F-14A power plants and related systems.

Dwain served in a variety of billets with the VF 84 "Jolly Rogers" in April 1984 and made one North Atlantic and two Mediterranean Sea deployments aboard USS Nimitz (CVN 68). In October 1987, Dwain received orders to VF 101 at NAS Oceana where he served as an F-14A power plant systems instructor at the Fleet Readiness Aviation Maintenance Program. While assigned to VF 101, he completed training for the F110-GE-400 engine and the F-14A+/D Super Tomcat aircraft. Dwain then reported to the VF 74 "Bedevillers" in February 1991. While there, he served as the line division leading petty officer and assistant flight deck coordinator. He completed a North Atlantic and a Mediterranean Sea deployment aboard USS Saratoga (CV 60). In April 1994 the "Bedevillers" were decommissioned and Dwain received orders to the VF 41 "Black Aces" where he completed an inter-deployment training cycle aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71).

In March 1995, Dwain reported to NAMTRAGRUDET Oceana, Virginia, where he was promoted to chief petty officer. While there, he served as leading instructor for the F-14A/B/D "O" and "I" level power plants and related systems phase.

Dwain reported to the VF 213 "Fighting Black Lions" in June 1998. While serving as flight deck coordinator and maintenance control chief, he completed one Pacific Rim exercise and one Western Pacific deployment aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), participating in Operations Desert Fox and Southern Watch in the Arabian Gulf. In September 2000, Dwain was commissioned as a chief warrant officer.

After completing the limited duty officer/chief warrant officer indoctrination and the Naval Aviation Maintenance Program Manager course, Dwain reported for duty with the VF 211 "Fighting Checkmates." After initially serving as assistant maintenance officer, he served as the maintenance material control officer (MMCO). Dwain completed a combat deployment to the Arabian Gulf aboard USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. During his tenure as MMCO, he was selected the 2002 Fighter Wing Atlantic Maintenance Officer of the Year.