Command Master Chief Steve Collins Redden, a native of Sarasota, Florida and a 1997 graduate of Booker High School. He reported to Recruit Training Command Great Lakes, IL on November 24, 1997. After completing Basic Training in February 1998, he reported to NTC Great Lakes, IL for Hospital Corpsman (HM) “A” School and graduated June 10, 1998. Upon completing HM “A” school, his first fleet assignment was with 2D Marine Division, 1st Battalion 6th Marines as a Hospitalman Recruit (HR) where he served as a Line Corpsman from Oct 1998 to Jan 1999. Following the completion of Naval Aircrew School and Aviation Medicine Technician, he reported as a Hospitalman (HN) to HELANTISUBRON FIVE (HS-5) Night Dippers, in May 1999 and was promoted to Hospital Corpsman Third Class in July 1999. While attached to HS-5, he served as a Combat Search and Rescue (SAR) Corpsman and the Squadron Corpsman. During his tour with HS-5, he completed two shipboard deployments, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, February - August 2000, and USS John F. Kennedy, February – August 2002. During this time, he also completed one deployment to Afghanistan, in 2002. Command Master Chief Redden was meritoriously advanced to Hospital Corpsman Second Class in July 2001. It was during this tour that America experienced the attacks of 9/11 and a young HM2 Redden, and the crew of the USS John F. Kennedy helped defend the Eastern Seaboard. During this tour, he earned his Naval Aircrew Wings (NAC), Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist Qualification (EAWS), and Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist (ESWS) Qualifications. After this tour, he deployed again with the Marines of I MEF in support of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom.
 
In June 2003, Command Master Chief Redden reported to Patrol Squadron (VP-46) Forty-Six Grey Knights, where he served as Lead Squadron Corpsman, Sensor III Operator P-3C Orion Aircraft, and Leading Petty Officer for Aviation Medicine Department, Naval Hospital Oak Harbor. He earned his Enlisted Aviation Warfare Qualification (EAWS), P-3C Aircraft while assigned to VP-46.
 
In May 2006, he reported for duty to 2D Marine Aircraft Wing, Marine Aircraft Group Two-Six (MAG-26), Marine Corps Air Station New River. North Carolina. During this assignment, he was hand-selected to be the LPO of the Group Aid Station, MAG-26, and MAG-29 Sailors. He held this position from June 2006 – June 2008. In June 2007 Command Master Chief Redden earned his Enlisted Fleet Marine Force Qualification (FMF). During this time, he qualified as a Combat Air Crewman (CAC) and Aerial Gunner in the CH-46E, MH-53E, and the MV-22B aircrafts. He also deployed twice to Iraq and once to Afghanistan during his tour at MCAS New River. During those combat deployments, Command Master Chief Redden flew CASEVAC missions to evacuate the wounded from the battlefield, transport patients to higher levels of care Hospitals and Field Hospitals and help save numerous lives in the process.
 
Command Master Chief Redden also served as an Aerial Gunner/Observer during his deployments while assigned to MAG-26 and MAG-29 as well, during tactical raids and transporting of high-level detainees.  Command Master Chief Redden was promoted to Chief Petty Officer in August 2008. During his last deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan in 2009, he served as the Senior Enlisted Leader of the Aviation Combat Element, Medical Planner, Lead CASEVAC Corpsman, and as an Aerial Gunner/Observer.
His planning and foresight were instrumental in the withdrawal/transition of critically needed Medical Personnel and Marine Corps Aviation Assets from Iraq into Afghanistan. During that time, he led six squadrons, 80 Sailors, and over 3,500 Marines. All of this accomplished with no loss of life or equipment.
 
In June 2010, Command Master Chief Redden reported for duty to Navy Recruiting District Seattle, where he served as the Lead Medical Officer Recruiter and the Command Managed Equal Opportunity Representative. He was selected as the Medical Officer Recruiter of the Year for NRD Seattle for FY 2012 and FY 2013. He was promoted to Senior Chief in June 2014.
Command Master Chief Redden reported for duty to 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, Okinawa Japan in April 2015 for assigned duty as Acting Command Master Chief. In August 2015 he became the unit’s Senior Enlisted Leader with the arrival of the billeted Command Master Chief. He reported in July 2017 to Naval Hospital Oak Harbor and assumed the duty as the Command Senior Enlisted Leader of Naval Hospital Oak Harbor and was assigned as the Command Senior Chief in October 2017 to Naval Health Clinic Oak Harbor. In February 2018 Command Master Chief Redden was board selected and promoted into the Command Senior Chief Program and no longer assigned to the Hospital Corpsman Rating.  Command Master Chief Redden became a rated Command Senior Chief (CMDCS) in March 2018.
 
In May 2018, he was once again board selected and promoted, this time to Command Master Chief, his current rank. Command Master Chief Redden reported for duty 13 August 2018, as the CMDCM of the “World Famous Black Ravens” of VAQ-135, stationed onboard NAS Whidbey Island, Oak Harbor, Washington. CMDCM Redden completed two deployments during his tenure at VAQ-135, CENTCOM AOR Deployment October 2019-March 2020 and INDOPACOM AOR Deployment October 2020-April 2021. Both deployments were vital to maintaining and increasing stability/security within the deployed AOR’s.  After three years of service with distinction as the Command Master Chief of VAQ-135, he transferred in September 2021. CMDCM Redden reported for duty as the Command Master Chief of USS San Antonio (LPD 17), Norfolk, Virginia in September 2021, during the ship’s deployment as part of the IWO JIMA Amphibious Ready Group.  CMDCM Redden reported to Patrol Squadron Nine (VP-9) in August 2023 and assumed the duties as CMC in November 2023.
 
Command Master Chief Redden is a Graduate of the following: CMC/COB Course 18020, U.S Navy’s Senior Enlisted Academy Class 186 (Brown Group), and Executive Medical Department Enlisted Course. His personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), Air Medal with 2 strike flight awards, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (three awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (nine awards), Iraqi Campaign Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, NATO ISAF Medal, Kosovo Campaign Medal, Good Conduct Medal (eight awards), Gold Wreath for Recruiting (fifteen awards) and multiple other unit awards. Command Master Chief Redden is approved to wear the following warfare devices: Naval Air Crewman (NAC), Combat Air Crewman (CAC), Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist (EAWS), Enlisted Fleet Marine Force (FMF), and Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist (ESWS). 
 
He has completed three tours of duty to Afghanistan and three tours of duty to Iraq. He is also an Alumni of the Wounded Warrior Project, Semper Fi Fund, and the Navy Wounded Warrior-Safe Harbor Program.