Command Master Chief
CMDCM Matthew L. Wilson
Command Master Chief Wilson is a native of Bedford, Indiana. He joined the Navy on his 17th birthday, finished up high school in December 1997, and left for boot camp in February of 1998. Upon graduation from basic training, he attended a year of formal training, earning the title of Fire Controlman and MK86 Gun Fire Control System (GFCS) Technician. In May of 1999, Wilson reported aboard his first ship, the USS Thomas S. Gates (CG 51), homeported in Pascagoula, Mississippi.
Wilson’s operational tours include the USS Thomas S. Gates (CG 51) as an MK 86 Tech, the USS Vella Gulf (CG 72) as leading petty officer for gunnery and missile division, command career counselor, and leading chief petty officer for combat acoustics division, the USS Anzio (CG 68) as weapons department leading chief petty officer, and most recently as Maritime Expeditionary Security Squadron (MSRON) 2 command senior enlisted leader. He has completed two counter drug operations deployments, a Standing North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Forces Atlantic (SNFL) deployment, a UNITAS, two counter piracy deployments, and four deployments to Fifth and Sixth Fleet area of responsibilities.
Wilson's shore tours include Navy Recruiting District (NRD) Indianapolis as Navy Recruiting Station (NRS) Lafayette recruiter in charge; MK 86 school house leading chief petty officer at Center for Surface Combat Systems (CSCS) Unit Dam Neck, and Expeditionary Warfare Training Group Pacific (EWTGPAC) as the command senior enlisted leader.
Wilson’s formal Navy training consists of Fire Controlman “A” School, MK 86 Gun Fire Control System (GFCS), SWG-1A Harpoon O & M, visit, board, search and seizure, anti-terrorism officer, command career counselor, combat systems senior enlisted, Expeditionary Combat Skills Course, and CMC/COB.
He holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Liberal Arts for Administrative Management from Excelsior College and is a graduate of the Senior Enlisted Academy.
Wilson currently serves as the Command Senior Enlisted Leader for Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 143 “World Famous Pukin’ Dogs” based out of Oceana, Virginia. His personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), Navy Commendation Medal (two awards), Navy Achievement Medal (five awards), as well as various unit and campaign awards.