CMDCM (SW/AW) Rita N. Carman Command Master Chief
CMDCM (SW/AW) Rita N. Carman was born in Charlotte, North Carolina in 1964. She graduated from Twentynine Palms High School, Twentynine Palms, California, in 1982. She enlisted in the US Navy in March of 1992, attending Basic training at Naval Training Center, Orlando Florida.
After graduating from MM “A” school as Distinguished Military Graduate and Honor Graduate, she reported to her First command, USS CAPE COD (AD 43), San Diego, CA, in Jan 93, where she completed 2 Westpac Deployments. After graduating top of her class from AC&R School, she reported to the USS DIXON (AS 37), Point Loma, CA, in Apr 95. Due to pending decommissioning of the USS DIXON (AS 37), she was soon transferred to USS YELLOWSTONE (AD 41), Norfolk Virginia, in Jul 95, during which time she completed her first MEDCRUISE. Following a successful tour on and decommissioning of the USS YELLOWSTONE (AD 41) she reported to the USS MONONGAHELA (AO 178), Norfolk, Virginia. During this tour, then MM2(SW), was designated Command EOSS coordinator, normally a position held by a Chief. After completing another MEDCRUISE she transferred to FTC San Diego, to instruct in the Engineering pipe line. During this tour, she qualified Master Training Specialist.
Master Chief Carman then converted to NC, and became the Assistant CCC for FTC. She terminated her shore duty early and transferred to the PCU LASSEN in November 2000, where she was the commissioning Command Career Counselor and Department LPO for NAV/ADMIN Department. Highlights of her tour onboard USS LASSEN (DDG 82) were being selected as Sailor of the Year and later advanced to Chief Petty Officer. She was one of three personnel on board to qualify as Afloat Training Specialist (ATS) and was a member of the ATS qualification board. After completing a 9 ½ month deployment, she was selected as the ESG5 ISIC NC and canceled her shored duty orders to deploy onboard USS BONHOMME RICHARD (LHD 6), where she qualified as Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist. Upon return from deployment, she reported to RSO to be the ISIC for all CRUDES ships and the CIC Manager. During this time she also became the ISIC for all Amphibious ships home ported in San Diego. Master Chief Carman has spent numerous off duty hours in support of Meals on Wheels.
During her time at RSO, she helped to standup the LCS CLASSRON followed by the CG CLASSRON, at which time the CIC was shifted from LCS CLASSRON to CG CLASSRON. She was selected first time up for Senior Chief, at which time she terminated shore duty to become the Command Career Counselor onboard USS PELELIU (LHA 5). She attended the Senior Enlisted Academy FEB-APR 2008 prior to reporting to the USS PELELIU (LHA 5). Due to manning shortfalls, five weeks after returning from her second deployment onboard, she volunteered to deploy on the USS RONALD REAGAN (CVN 76) for 7 months to include support of TOMODACHI. She was advanced to Master Chief in April 2011.
In February 2012 Master Chief Carman was selected to the Command Master Chief Program and was assigned to the USS GONZALEZ (DDG 66) in April 2012, her current assignment. Master Chief Carman has earned numerous personal, unit awards and citations to include: Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (3), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (4), Good Conduct Medal (6) and Humanitarian Service Medal (3). She is a single mother of 2 boys, Christopher Shawn (27) and Dakota Brian (22), and the caregiver for her mother.