Force Master Chief Richard L. Straney

Force Master Chief, Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC)

27 September 2020 Master Chief Straney is from Melbourne, Florida. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business and Management, enlisted in the Navy in October of 1991, and attended Basic Training at Recruit Training Command in Orlando, Florida, and Electronics Technician "A" school in Great Lakes, Illinois. Upon completion, he was assigned to FACSFAC in San Diego, Calif. He was next assigned to NCTAMS, Guam in July of 1996 where he was accepted into the U.S. Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal program in 1998.

Upon graduation from the EOD training pipeline, he completed operational tours at EOD Mobile Units FIVE, FOUR and SIX where he executed deployments to CENTCOM, INDOPACOM and EUCOM in support of Operations including ENDURING and IRAQI FREEDOM conducting IED response and direct-action missions in support of special operations and conventional forces.

His expeditionary sea tours include EODMU FIVE, FOUR and SIX, CTF 68 and CTF 75. His shore tours include FACSFAC San Diego, Defense Language Institute, EODMU SIX Detachment Mayport, FL and Bureau of Naval Personnel as the EOD Community Manager Technical Advisor.

Master Chief Straney’s first Command Master Chief Assignment was EODMU FIVE, Guam in 2010. Subsequently, he served as Command Master Chief, Naval Expeditionary Task Force Europe and Africa (CTF 68) in Rota, Spain, Navy Expeditionary Forces Command Pacific (CTF 75) and now serves as Force Master Chief, Navy Expeditionary Combat Command in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Master Chief Straney is authorized to wear the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (4 awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (5 awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (3 awards), Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, and various other unit and service awards. Master Chief Straney is a Master EOD Technician, graduate of the Senior Enlisted Academy, Command Master Chief Course, USFF Enlisted Leadership Symposium, Navy Senior Leadership Seminar and National Defense University’s Keystone.