Command Master Chief William A. Kumley, a native of New Port Richey, Florida, enlisted in the Navy under the Delayed Entry Program in June of 1997. After attending Basic Training in Great Lakes, Illinois, he reported to aviation electronics technician “A" school in Pensacola, Florida.
Master Chief Kumley’s first tour was with Marine Heavy Helicopter Training Squadron 302 in Jacksonville, North Carolina, at Marine Corps Air Station New River. There he worked as a communications and navigation technician at Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 29, advancing to the rank of petty officer second class.
In September 2000, Master Chief Kumley reported to Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department (AIMD) Oceana Sea-op-Det as an F-14 Tomcat radar technician, where he deployed with the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), and USS Enterprise (CVN 65). He advanced to Petty Officer First Class through the Meritorious Advancement Program and remained at AIMD on shore duty as the leading petty officer of the F-14 Radar Shop before the F-14 Tomcat was retired from service, at which point he became the Manpower assistant leading petty officer.
In March 2008, Master Chief Kumley reported to the USS Dwight D Eisenhower (CVN 69), where he was selected to Chief Petty Officer in 2009. He served as the Mess Decks chief master-at-arms, Aviation Electrician Branch chief petty officer, and Light Industrial Facility chief petty officer, before reporting to the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) as the Light Industrial Facility leading chief petty officer during the ship's Refueling and Complex Overhaul in Newport News, Virginia.
After two back-to-back sea tours, Master Chief Kumley reported to the “Gladiators” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 106 in Oceana, Virginia, where he served as the maintenance chief and senior enlisted advisor for the F/A-18E/F “Rhino" side of the squadron. There he earned his Safe for Flight qualification and led multiple training detachments and also stood up the squadron’s Tactical Demonstration team. Following a successful tour at VFA-106, he transferred to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 28 “Dragonwhales" and was selected for the Command Senior Chief Program. He served as the command senior chief of Transient Personnel Unit Puget Sound for his first command senior chief tour before reporting to Air Test and Evaluation Squadron THIRTY in September 2021. In March 2022, he was promoted to Command Master Chief and reported to Naval Base Ventura County in April 2022 and served as the Command Master Chief for Naval Base Ventura County.
In December 2024 he reported to Naval Base Kitsap as the Command Master Chief.
Master Chief Kumley is a graduate of both the Senior Enlisted Academy (Class 195 Khaki) and the Command Master Chief course (Class 191), and earned his Associate’s degree in Aeronautics from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. His personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (four awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (two awards), Meritorious Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal (eight awards), and various unit and campaign awards.
Last Updated: 9 December 2024