General Deering was appointed by Governor of Oklahoma Brad Henry in 2009 following the promotion of Harry M. Wyatt III to the position of director, Air National Guard.

In March 1980 he was promoted to the rank of captain and assumed command of the Combat Support Company, 1st Battalion, 180th Infantry Regiment.

After briefly being assigned to the headquarters of the 45th Infantry Brigade, Major Deering returned to the 700th Support Battalion in 1992 and assumed command of that unit with his promotion to lieutenant colonel.

Colonel Deering was selected to serve as the secretary to the General Staff at Headquarters of the Oklahoma National Guard.

Upon his arrival, he assumed command over 15,500 Army, National Guard, and Marine personnel providing disaster relief operations and support.

In October 2007, General Deering and the 45th Infantry Brigade were deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

In that position, Deering is responsible for the operations and has command over all aspects of the Oklahoma Army and Air National Guard.