Command Master Chief LunYe’ Richards is a native of Houston, Texas and a graduate of Kashmere Senior High School.  She enlisted in the United States Navy in September 1997 and reported to Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Illinois.  Upon completion of training, she reported to now-decommissioned USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) as an undesignated Seaman Apprentice. She subsequently rose through the ranks serving aboard now-decommissioned ships USNS Niagara Falls (T-AFS 3), USS Tarawa (LHA 1), and USS Peleliu (LHA 5). Additionally, she served aboard USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) on the staff of Destroyer Squadron FIFTEEN (CDS 15) during three western Pacific patrols.
 
Her shore assignments include Navy and Marine Corps Intranet (NMCI) Detachment San Diego, Center for Information Dominance Learning Site San Diego, Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center (now Naval Information Warfare Center) Atlantic in New Orleans and Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific in San Diego.  She also completed an individual augmentee assignment at Headquarters International Security Assistance Force in Kabul, Afghanistan.
 
Her personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (three awards), and Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (five awards), along with various unit and campaign awards.  Additionally, she is designated as a Master Training Specialist and qualified as an Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist, Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist, and Enlisted Information Dominance Warfare Specialist. While assigned to NMCI, she was selected as the 2002 Enlisted Woman of the Year.
 
She is a graduate of the U.S. Navy Senior Enlisted Academy (Class 201), Command Master Chief (CMC)/Chief of the Boat Course (Class 24020), and earned an associate’s degree in computer networking from Coastline Community College.
 
She assumed duties as Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron SEVEN EIGHT Command Master Chief January 9, 2024.

Last Updated: 21 March 2024