HELICOPTER SEA COMBAT SQUADRON TWO ONE - OFFICIAL HOMEPAGE OF THE BLACK JACKS

CMDCM Joseph Curtin
Command Master Chief, HSC-21

A native of Syracuse, N.Y., Master Chief Curtin graduated from Cicero High School in 1981. He enrolled in the Delayed Entry Program in January 1983, and received recruit training at Recruit Training Command, San Diego, Calif. Upon graduation from boot camp he reported to Hull Maintenance Technician class ”A” school in San Francisco.

Following “A” school, he reported to Auxiliary Floating Drydock Competent (AFDM 6), Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Upon completion of his first enlistment in October 1986, he separated from the naval service and returned to Syracuse. In January of 1987 he returned to active duty and reported to Patrol Hydrofoil Missile Squadron Two, Mobile Logistics Support Group, Key West, Fla. While there he converted to Damage Controlman and was promoted to Petty Officer First Class. He then transferred to Naval Damage Control Training Center, Philadelphia for instructor duty where he advanced to Chief Petty Officer.

After a tour training the Navy’s “finest firefighters”, he transferred to USS GEORGE WASHINGTON(CVN 73), Norfolk, Va, as the Damage Control Division Leading Chief Petty Officer. He advanced to Senior Chief during this tour, and proceeded to Great Lakes, Ill, for duty as Senior Instructor, Damage Control “A” School. During his tour in Great Lakes he advanced to Master Chief and subsequently selected for the Command Master Chief(CMC) program.

He attended the Senior Enlisted Academy and the Command Master Chief Pilot Course in Newport RI. His first CMC tour was aboard USS HOPPER(DDG 70) in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. He followed this highly successful tour with the privilege of becoming the Command Master Chief of USS JOHN C. STENNIS(CVN 74) in Bremerton, Washington.

Leaving STENNIS after an extremely triumphant three years he proceeded to Jacksonville, Florida and served as the CMC for Navy Region Southeast. The completion of his exultant three year tour at the Region is followed by his current posting as Command Master Chief of the Blackjacks of HSC 21 in San Diego, Calif.

Master Chief Curtin has received numerous personal, unit, and campaign awards and has been honored to serve the United States Navy for more than 28 years.