Force Master Chief Jimmy W. Hailey III
Force Master Chief Jimmy W. Hailey III is a native of Austin, Texas. He graduated high school in 1993 and enlisted in the Navy in 1994. He is a designated master training specialist, a graduate of the US Navy Senior Enlisted Academy (Class 154/Brown), Command Master Chief/Chief of the Boat (CMC/COB) Course (Class 109), the National Defense University Keystone Course (Class 19-1), and the Naval Postgraduate School Senior Leaders Seminar. He earned his Bachelors of Science degree in organizational leadership and an Associates of Applied Science in leadership and technology from Fort Hays State University. Additionally, he earned a certification in organizational leadership in June 2012, and as a Resilience Building Leader Program – Trainer (RBLP-T) in December 2021.
Following his graduation from Recruit Training Command (RTC) Great Lakes, Illinois and Surface Sonar Technician “A” School, his first duty station was the Pre-Commissioning crew of the USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62) in San Diego, California. Follow on tours include: USS Benfold (DDG 65) in San Diego, and USS Chung-Hoon (DDG 93) in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
Ashore, he served two tours at RTC, Great Lakes performing the duties as a recruit division commander, ship’s (barracks) leading chief petty officer, fleet quality assurance leading chief petty officer, and 7th fleet leading chief petty officer.
Selected into the CMC program in February 2012, his CMC tours include Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 86 “Sidewinders”, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17 “Team Quicksand”, USS Nimitz (CVN 68), Naval Service Training Command, and Naval Safety Command.
He assumed the duties as Force Master Chief, Naval Air Force Atlantic in March 2023.
His military decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal (five awards), Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal (three awards), Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Navy Good Conduct Medal (eight awards), Iraq Campaign Medal, and Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) Expeditionary Medal, GWOT Service Medal, Accession Training Service Ribbon (three awards) and numerous unit citation and service awards.