Darren Huxley enlisted as an Officer Cadet at the Australian Defence Force Academy in 1988 and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in 1990.

In 1991 he graduated from the Royal Military College of Australia into the Royal Australian Infantry Corps, and was initially appointed as a Platoon Commander in the 5th/7th Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment (5/7 RAR). Additional postings included tours as a Depot Company Platoon Commander at the School of Infantry; as the Adjutant, 12th/40th Battalion, Royal Tasmania Regiment; and as an instructor on the Battle Wing of the Land Command Battle School at Canungra. He was also posted as a Battle Captain on Headquarters 1st Brigade in Darwin from 1999 to 2001.

In 2001 he was promoted to Major and appointed as a Company Commander in 5/7 RAR. Whilst with the battalion he deployed on Operation Relex and with AUSBATT VII during Operation Citadel in East Timor.

In 2003 he attended the United States Marine Corps Command and Staff College in Quantico, Virginia, and graduated as a Distinguished Graduate with a Master of Military Studies. In 2004 he was selected to attend the prestigious School of Advanced Warfighting at the Marine Corps University from which he graduated in 2005.

On return to Australia in 2005 he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and posted as the Staff Officer Land Operations at Strategic Operations Division, ADHQ. This position transitioned in 2006 to Military Strategic Commitments Branch of the VCDF Group where he was the Deputy Director Regional and Domestic Commitments.

In 2009 he assumed command of the 5th Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment and deployed on operation Astute as the Commanding Officer of Timor Leste Battle Group V over the period January to June 2009. In 2010 he deployed to Afghanistan with 5 RAR assuming the Operation Slipper tasks of the 2nd Australian Mentoring Task Force (MTF-2). He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his command of MTF-2 from October 2010 until June 2011.

On return to Australia he was promoted to Colonel and officially handed over command of 5 RAR to LTCOL Andrew Forbes in July 2011 at Robertson Barracks in Darwin.