Command Master Chief Samuel John Rivera Jr. is a native of Queens, New York.  He graduated from St. Johns Preparatory High School, class of 1998 and enlisted in the US Navy in November of that same year. He attended Recruit Training in Great Lakes, Nuclear Field Electrician "A" School, Nuclear Power School, and qualified as an Electrical Operator at the MTS-635 prototype in Nuclear Power Training Unit Charleston, South Carolina.
 
Master Chief Rivera’s sea tours consist of the USS RONALD REAGAN (CVN 76) serving as a member of Reactor Electrical Division, USS ENTERPRISE (CVN 65) serving as Engineering Electrical Distribution Leading Chief Petty Officer, USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT (CVN 71) serving as Reactor Training Division Officer, and USS HARRY S TRUMAN (CVN 75) serving as the Reactor Department Master Chief.
 
Master Chief Rivera’s shore duties consist of Leading Crew Chief at NUCLEAR POWER TRAINING UNIT Charleston, SC where he qualified Master Training Specialist and the Lead Instructor at A4W Fleet Interactive Display Equipment Facility (FIDE) as part of Submarine Learning Center (SLC) Detachment, San Diego.
 
Master Chief Rivera’s Command Master Chief tours consist of Airborne Command and Control Squadron ONE TWO ONE “BLUETAILS” (VAW 121) where he deployed as part of CARRIER AIR WING SEVEN (CVW 7) and USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN STRIKE GROUP, Airborne Command and Control Squadron ONE TWO ZERO “GREYHAWKS” (VAW 120), Carrier Airwing SEVEN “FREEDOM” (CVW 7) where he deployed as part of USS GEORGE H. W. BUSH STRIKE GROUP, and is currently serving as the Command Master Chief of Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center (NAWDC).
 
During his sea tours he has completed seven deployments, one Aircraft Carrier Pre-Commissioning, one Aircraft Carrier homeport change and one major mid-life Aircraft Carrier overhaul.
 
Master Chief Rivera is a graduate of the Air Force Senior Enlisted Non-Commissioned Officer Academy (Class 11-C), a graduate of Command Leadership CMC/COB Course (Class 188), and Advanced Command Master Chief Course. His personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal (3 awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (5 awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (1 award), multiple service ribbons, and unit citations.