Raised in Beaufort, NC, Dustin Kuers enlisted in the Navy in January of 1995. After graduation from RTC Great Lakes, he first served as an Aviation Electrician’s Mate with Helicopter Anti-Submarine Light Four Four (HSL-44) where he earned his Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist and Collateral Duty Quality Assurance Representative qualifications for the SH-60B Helicopter.

In 1999, he transitioned to Aircrew, where he earned his Wings of Gold as a Naval Flight Engineer, and served as Flight Engineer instructor in the P-3C Orion with the ‘Golden Swordsman’ of Patrol Squadron 47 (VP-47). He next served with the ‘PROs Nest’ of Patrol Squadron 30 (VP-30), where he qualified as Fleet Instructor Under Training (FIUT) instructor and was selected to wear the gold fouled anchors of the Chief Petty Officer in 2007.

He has served as Senior Aircrewman and Flight Engineer instructor throughout various commands to include Patrol Squadron 9 (VP-9) where he was advanced to Senior Chief, Patrol Squadron 30 (VP-30) and Patrol Squadron 4 (VP-4) where he was selected to the Command Program earning the rank of Command Master Chief.

Master Chief Kuers has served as Command Master Chief for Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron ONE (VQ-1), Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron THREE (HSC-3), Commander Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing ONE/Commander Task Force SEVEN TWO (CTF-72), and Naval Aviation Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD). Master Chief Kuers checked on board Commander Naval Air Forces (CNAF) as the 18^th FORCM in October of 2024.

Master Chief Kuers accumulated over 4700 flight hours and has been awarded the Meritorious Service Medal (4), Air Medal - Strike/Flight (4), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (5), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (5), and various other unit, personal, and campaign medals.

Last Updated: 4 November 2024