Joe R. Campa
Encyclopedia
Joe R. Campa, Jr., was the 11th Master Chief Petty Officer of the United States Navy
.
. He also graduated from the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy in May 2003 and completed the Command Sergeants Major course. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from Excelsior College
. In March 2006 he graduated from the Naval War College
with a Master of Arts
degree in National Security and Strategic Studies.
and Hospital Corpsman "A" School in San Diego
His duty assignments include USS Ogden (LPD-5)
, San Diego; Naval Medical Center, San Diego, California; Seventh Marine Regiment, First Marine Division, Camp Pendleton; Naval Hospital, Long Beach, California
; Third Force Service Support Group, Fleet Marine Force
, Okinawa, Japan; Naval Hospital Bremerton, Washington
; First Force Service Support Group during the Persian Gulf War
; USS Comstock (LSD-45)
San Diego, California; and Naval Training Center, Great Lakes, Illinois.
Campa was selected to the Command Master Chief program in May 1999. He reported to USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG-54)
in Yokosuka, Japan as Command Master Chief in November 1999 and served until June 2002.
During his CMC tour, the ship deployed to the North Arabian Sea in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. From June 2003 – February 2005 he served as the Command Master Chief for USS Frank Cable (AS-40)
, homeported in Guam
. Prior to being selected to be MCPON he was the Command Master Chief at Joint Task Force Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. He was sworn in as MCPON 10 July 2006.
was announced as 12th MCPON. Campa received the Navy Distinguished Service Medal
during his retirement ceremony.
Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy
The Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy is a unique non-commissioned rank in the United States Navy, which has a paygrade of E-9. The holder of this rank and post is the most senior enlisted member of the U.S...
.
Education
Campa is a distinguished honor graduate of the U.S. Navy Senior Enlisted AcademyU.S. Navy Senior Enlisted Academy
The U.S. Navy Senior Enlisted Academy provides education and training for senior and master chief petty officers. Most of the students are active-duty Navy personnel...
. He also graduated from the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy in May 2003 and completed the Command Sergeants Major course. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from Excelsior College
Excelsior College
Excelsior College is a private, non-profit institution of higher education in Albany, New York. It is a constituent member of The University of the State of New York, and has its own charter and Board of Trustees. Excelsior College offers degrees at the undergraduate and graduate level...
. In March 2006 he graduated from the Naval War College
Naval War College
The Naval War College is an education and research institution of the United States Navy that specializes in developing ideas for naval warfare and passing them along to officers of the Navy. The college is located on the grounds of Naval Station Newport in Newport, Rhode Island...
with a Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
degree in National Security and Strategic Studies.
Naval career
Campa enlisted in the Navy on 2 June 1980. He completed Recruit TrainingRecruit training
Recruit training, more commonly known as Basic Training and colloquially called Boot Camp, is the initial indoctrination and instruction given to new military personnel, enlisted and officer...
and Hospital Corpsman "A" School in San Diego
His duty assignments include USS Ogden (LPD-5)
USS Ogden (LPD-5)
USS Ogden , an Austin-class amphibious transport dock, was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for Ogden, Utah....
, San Diego; Naval Medical Center, San Diego, California; Seventh Marine Regiment, First Marine Division, Camp Pendleton; Naval Hospital, Long Beach, California
Long Beach, California
Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
; Third Force Service Support Group, Fleet Marine Force
Fleet Marine Force
The United States Fleet Marine Forces are combined general and special purpose forces within the United States Department of the Navy that are designed in engaging offensive amphibious or expeditionary warfare and defensive maritime employment...
, Okinawa, Japan; Naval Hospital Bremerton, Washington
Bremerton, Washington
Bremerton is a city in Kitsap County, Washington, United States. The population was 38,790 at the 2011 State Estimate, making it the largest city on the Olympic Peninsula. Bremerton is home to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and the Bremerton Annex of Naval Base Kitsap...
; First Force Service Support Group during the Persian Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
; USS Comstock (LSD-45)
USS Comstock (LSD-45)
USS Comstock is a Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship of the United States Navy. She was the second Navy ship to be named for the Comstock Lode in Nevada...
San Diego, California; and Naval Training Center, Great Lakes, Illinois.
Campa was selected to the Command Master Chief program in May 1999. He reported to USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG-54)
USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG-54)
USS Curtis Wilbur is the fourth Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer. Curtis Wilbur was named for Curtis D. Wilbur, forty-third Secretary of the Navy, who served under President Calvin Coolidge....
in Yokosuka, Japan as Command Master Chief in November 1999 and served until June 2002.
During his CMC tour, the ship deployed to the North Arabian Sea in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. From June 2003 – February 2005 he served as the Command Master Chief for USS Frank Cable (AS-40)
USS Frank Cable (AS-40)
USS Frank Cable is the second built by the Lockheed Shipbuilding and Construction Company of Seattle, Washington for the United States Navy....
, homeported in Guam
Guam
Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
. Prior to being selected to be MCPON he was the Command Master Chief at Joint Task Force Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. He was sworn in as MCPON 10 July 2006.
Retirement
On 7 November 2008, Campa announced his plans to step down as MCPON on 12 December 2008 and to retire on 1 April 2009. On 5 December 2008, Fleet Master Chief Rick D. WestRick D. West
Rick D. West is the 12th and current Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy . On December 12, 2008, West accepted the passing of the ceremonial cutlass from outgoing MCPON Joe R. Campa-Early life and naval career:...
was announced as 12th MCPON. Campa received the Navy Distinguished Service Medal
Navy Distinguished Service Medal
The Navy Distinguished Service Medal is a military award of the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps which was first created in 1919. The decoration is the Navy and Marine Corps equivalent to the Army Distinguished Service Medal, the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, and the Coast...
during his retirement ceremony.
See also
- Hispanics in the United States NavyHispanics in the United States NavyHispanics in the United States Navy can trace their tradition of naval military service to men such as Lieutenant Jorge Farragut Mesquida, who served in the American Revolution. Hispanics, such as Seaman Philip Bazaar and Seaman John Ortega, have distinguished themselves in combat and have been...