YSF Community Sailing, Vero Beach, Florida
A proud native of Indian River County, JD Mumford was born and raised in the heart of Florida’s Treasure Coast. From a young age, the local beaches, waterways, and the legendary Stick Marsh were his playground, where he developed a deep passion for all things water-related.
During high school, JD served as a lifeguard at both Sebastian and the Gifford Aquatic Center. Shortly after graduating from Sebastian River High School, he enlisted in the United States Navy. He honorably served four years of a six-year contract before a training accident led to medical retirement. Undeterred by his permanent injuries, JD used the Yellow Ribbon Program to attend the Diver Institute of Technology in Seattle, Washington, where he successfully completed commercial dive school with a focus on underwater welding.
For nearly a decade, JD traveled the world as a professional commercial diver. During this time, he also earned an Associate of Arts degree in Business using his GI Bill. Eventually, the pull of home and his original love for the water brought him back to Indian River County. He hung up his diving helmet and rediscovered his childhood passion for sailing.
Today, JD serves as the Adaptive Director and leads the Adult Sailing Program at YSF Community Sailing in Vero Beach. In these roles, he combines his extensive maritime experience, resilience, and local knowledge to create inclusive, welcoming sailing opportunities for the community. His mission is to help others especially those with disabilities and adult learners experience the same joy, freedom, and connection to the water that sailing has always brought him.
