Command     Master     Chief     (SW/AW/FMF)     Chad     Lunsford     enlisted   in   the   Navy   in   April   1992.   After   completing   basic   training   at   Recruit  Training  Command,  Great  Lakes,  Illinois,  he  attended  Fire  Controlman  (FC)  “A”  and  “C”  schools,  graduating  as  a  Fire  Controlman  3rd  Class.

The Bloomington, California native reported to his first command, USS Rushmore (LSD 47), in February 1994. During his tour there, the ship earned two Battle Effectiveness Awards and the Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet Close-In Weapons Systems (CIWS) Excellence Award; Lunsford completed two deployments to the Western Pacific and left the ship as a Fire Controlman 1st Class.

In 1999, Command Master Chief Lunsford transferred to Fleet Training Center, San Diego where he earned his Master Training Specialist (MTS) certification while teaching all CIWS courses of instruction to both U.S. and foreign Navy students. He was selected for the CIWS Excellence Award, an honor normally reserved for one ship each year, for volunteering 110 off-duty hours rebuilding the CIWS 1B gun of the Navy’s Self Defense Test Ship.

Command Master Chief Lunsford was promoted to Chief Petty Officer in 2001 and shortly after reported to Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) Preble (DDG 88) as Guns Division Leading Chief Petty Officer. There he also served as the ship’s Force Protection Officer, Anti-Terrorism/Force Protection (ATFP) training team leader and Vessel Boarding, Search and Seizure team leader through- out the ship’s pre-commissioning process and its maiden deployment to the Arabian Gulf. He also served as the ATFP lead for the NFL Super Bowl hosted on board the ship. He was advanced to Senior Chief Petty Officer in 2004.

In 2005, Command Master Chief Lunsford reported to Naval Medical Center, San Diego, where he served as a certified as a Navy Drug and Alcohol Counselor (NDAC), clinic Senior Enlisted Leader (SEL) and certified addictions counselor.  One year later, he was selected as the Senior Enlisted Leader (SEL) of the Directorate of Mental Health, where he was the only non-Master Chief Petty Officer and non-corpsman directorate SEL. He led a military and civilian team of more than 300 personnel, encompassing seven geographically separate clinics.

He graduated from the Senior Enlisted Academy (Class 141, Brown group) in 2008 and reported to PCU Dewey (DDG 105) later that year. There he served as Weapons Department Leading Chief Petty Officer, acting Command Master Chief and the ATFP lead for the ship’s security program, certification process and the commissioning ceremony. He was promoted to Master Chief Petty Officer in 2009 and accepted into the Command Master Chief program.

Command Master Chief Lunsford completed the Command Master Chief/Chief of the Boat Course in 2010 and reported as Command Master Chief of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 94 “Mighty Shrikes”. There he made two, six-month Unit Deployed Program (UDP) deployments to Iwakuni, Japan, as part of Marine Aircraft Group 12, supporting Navy and Marine Corps integration. His squadron won two Boola Boola Awards, representing the Pacific Fleet fighter or strike fighter squadron that demonstrated the highest capability to maintain and use air-to-air missile weapons systems during the fiscal year.

In June 2012, Command Master Chief Lunsford returned to pre-commissioning duty and reported as Command Master Chief of PCU America (LHA 6), where he made the maiden “AMERICA visits the Americas” deployment, sailing around South America conducting partnership events to strengthen relationships. He was part of the Plankowner crew who commissioned the ship in October 2014.

In April 2015, Command Master Chief Lunsford reported to Navy Region Southwest where he currently serves as the regional Command Master Chief.

Command Master Chief Lunsford holds a bachelor’s degree in business management from National University and a master’s degree in business administration from Trident University International.  Personal awards include: Meritorious Service Medal (3 awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (3 awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (5 awards), Good Conduct Medal (7 awards), Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal and various campaign and service awards. He is authorized to wear Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist, Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist and Fleet Marine Force pins.