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Senior Chief Aviation Machinist Mate James K. Sykes

Senior Chief Sykes from Merizo, Guam joined the Navy in 1999 and completed Recruit Basic Training in Great Lakes, Illinois.  After graduation, he attended Aviation Machinist Mate "A" school in Pensacola, Florida.  Senior Chief Sykes reported to VAQ-130 “Zappers” for his first duty station located in Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington, where he completed two Mediterranean Deployments onboard the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75). 

Senior Chief Sykes from Merizo, Guam joined the Navy in 1999 and completed Recruit Basic Training in Great Lakes, Illinois.  After graduation, he attended Aviation Machinist Mate "A" school in Pensacola, Florida.

Senior Chief Sykes reported to VAQ-130 “Zappers” for his first duty station located in Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington. As a Power Plants technician, he obtained his qualification as a Collateral Duty Inspector and Low Power Turn Operator. He was Meritoriously Advanced to Second Class Petty Officer and was assigned as Line Division Night Shift Supervisor. He completed two Mediterranean Deployments onboard the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75). 

In 2004, he transferred to CSFWP AIMD located at Naval Air Station Lemoore, California.  He was assigned the duties of 400 Division Module Shop, then became Test Cell Night Shift Supervisor and Collateral Duty Inspector for F-414 and F-404 Engines and Honeywell Auxiliary Power Units. Additionally, he was temporarily assigned to VX-9 located at NAWS China Lake, CA to assist with the maintenance and upkeep of the new F-18 Super Hornets.

In 2007, he reported to VAW-116 “Sun Kings” located at NAWS Point Mugu, California working on E-2C Hawkeye 2000’s. He was Meritoriously Advanced to First Class Petty Officer and performed duties as Power Plants Night shift Supervisor, Quality Assurance Leading Petty Officer and Maintenance Control, earning his designation for Safe-For-Flight.  During his tour, he completed two Western Pacific Deployments onboard the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72). 

In 2011, he reported to NRD Los Angeles, CA where he was assigned to NRS Thousand Oaks and NRS Simi Valley, California. Senior Chief Sykes was selected for Chief Petty Officer in 2012. During his tour he exceeded the station’s New Contract Objective by 238 percent, recruiting 72 New Sailors and processed 80 NROTC applications.

In 2014, he reported to VAW-116 “Sun Kings” for a second tour and was immediately deployed for 10 months working on upgraded E-2C HE2K CNS/ATM and assigned to Maintenance Control.  During his tour, he performed duties as Line Division Leading Chief Petty Officer and Maintenance Control Supervisor and was essential in the Squadron earning the Safety “S” and its first Battle “E” in years along with the Admiral Akers Award for recognition as the best E-2C squadron. He was selected to Senior Chief Petty Officer in 2017 and performed the duties as the Maintenance Master Chief Petty Officer during a billeting gap. He completed two Western Pacific Deployments onboard the USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) and USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71). 

In October of 2018, Senior Chief Sykes reported to his current command, VRC-30
Detachment 5, homeported at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan as the Senior Enlisted Advisor and Maintenance Senior Chief.

Senior Chief Sykes’s personal decorations include three Navy Commendation Medals, five Navy Achievement Medals and various unit and campaign awards.

Last Updated: 14 April 2021


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