Command Master Chief Robert Kershaw

Command Master Chief, Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 3

26 October 2020 Master Chief Kershaw is a native of Bedford, NH and enlisted in the Navy in October of 1994. Upon graduation from recruit training in Great Lakes, he reported to Naval Aircrew Candidate School and Aviation Rescue Swimmer School in Pensacola, FL. He attended AD “A” school in Millington, TN and received orders to HC-3 in San Diego to attend the H-46 Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS) were he earned his Aircrew wings of gold.
 
In April 1996, he reported to his first at-sea assignment to the “Chargers” of HC-6 in Norfolk, VA and completed three deployments aboard the USNS Sirius (T-AFS 8), USNS Concord (T-AFS 5) and the USS Wasp (LHD 1).  During this tour he qualified as an H-46D Crewchief, Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist, and Full-Systems Collateral Duty Quality Assurance Representative.
 
In March 2002, he was reassigned to the “Providers” of HC-5 in Agana, Guam to be a part of the first helicopter squadron to transition from the H-46D to the MH-60S. He deployed twice aboard USS Essex (LHD 2) supporting operations in C5F and C7F AORs as well as disaster relief operations in Banda Aceh, Indonesia following the 2004 Indian ocean tsunami. Additionally, he graduated from the Seahawk Weapons and Tactics Instructor (SWTI) School and earned his Safe-for-flight qualification.
 
In April of 2009, he reported to the “Tridents” of HSC-9 where he completed deployments aboard the USS Bataan (LHD 5) supporting disaster relief operations in Haiti and the maiden deployment of USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) where he earned his Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist qualification. 
 
In September 2015 he reported to the “World Famous Golden Falcons” of HSC-12 in Atsugi, Japan where he completed six patrols aboard USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). During this tour he earned his Enlisted Information Warfare Specialist qualification.
 
Ashore, he served as an MH-60S cadre aircrew at H-60R/S Fleet Introduction Team in San Diego, CA.  Additionally he completed instructor/evaluator tours Helicopter Sea Combat Weapons School Atlantic, CNAP Search and Rescue evaluator at HSC-3 SAR Model Manager, HSC-2, and HSC-3.   
 
AWSCM Kershaw has over 6,600 flight hours in the H-46D and MH-60S.  He is a graduate of the Navy Senior Enlisted Academy class 144 (Khaki) and holds a Bachelors of Science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. His awards include Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (6), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (4), and various unit and service awards.