CMDCM Mercedes N. Hargrove
A native of Richmond, Virginia, Master Chief Hargrove began her naval career November 1994 at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Illinois, where she attended boot camp and Hospital Corpsman “A” School. She went on to serve her first tour of duty at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, Virginia, charting a course toward Field Medical Service School in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and the completion of her technical proficiency in Surgical Technologist “C” School at the Naval School of Health Sciences, Portsmouth, Virginia.
Her sea assignments are comprised of: the USS Kearsarge LHD-3, Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia; 3rd Marine Logistics Group, Camp Kinser, Marine Corps Base Butler, Okinawa, Japan; and Chemical Biological Incident Response Force, Naval Support Activity, Indian Head, Maryland.
Master Chief Hargrove completed three deployments while USS Kearsarge was the flagship for Amphibious Task Force East and primary Casualty Receiving Ship for Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Shinning Express (a Non-combatant Evacuation Operation during the 2nd Liberian Civil War), and Operation Iraqi Freedom III. Additionally, she augmented the operations of several multinational, humanitarian, and emergency response missions in support of Balikatan, PHIBLEX, Cobra Gold, and Operation Tomodachi.
In addition to those previously mentioned, Master Chief Hargrove’s shore rotations include a tour as Recruit Division Commander at Recruit Training Command Great Lakes, Illinois; an Instructor tour at Hospital Corpsman “A” School, Navy Medicine Training Support Center, Joint Base San Antonio, Texas; and an assignment as Navy Manning Advocate in Total Force Structure Division (BSO-27), Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia where she managed the utilization of over 12,000 Navy personnel in support of the Marine Corps. Master Chief Hargrove has served as the Command Master Chief, Strike Fighter Squadron 34 onboard NAS Oceana since April of 2019.
Master Chief Hargrove is a Master Training Specialist and holds her Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Health Care Management. She has attended the Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer’s Academy (Class 180), was the Honor Graduate of the Navy’s Senior Enlisted Academy (Class 184/BC 56) and completed CMC/COB Course (Class 19070).
Her personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal (2nd award), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (2nd award), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (6th award), Combat Action Ribbon, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, and various other unit and service awards.