Master Chief Call, a native of Haverhill, Mass., started his naval career in 1988 at Recruit Training Center, Orlando Fla. Upon graduation, he followed on to Photographer’s Mate “A” School, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla. and then to USS Constellation (CV 64) in San Diego, Calif. While aboard “America’s Flagship” Call completed Western Pacific and Northern Pacific deployments and sailed “around the horn” to the Philadelphia Naval Ship Yard. In September of 1990 Master Chief transferred to Naval Aircrew Candidate School with follow on orders to Rota, Spain as an aerial photographer. He returned to the Naval Schools of Photography in 1991 earning the Motion Picture Cameraman Navy Enlisted Classification (NEC).
In November 1993, Master Chief Call reported to Atlantic Fleet Combat Camera, Norfolk, Va. There he completed two six-month deployments, travelled extensively supporting operations and exercises throughout Europe and the Caribbean Basin and was meritoriously advanced to Photographer’s Mate First Class. In July 1997, Master Chief was accepted into the coveted Military Photojournalism Program at The Newhouse School, Syracuse University where he earned his photojournalism NEC. Upon graduation, follow on orders were issued to Combat Camera Group Pacific, San Diego, Calif. In 2001 he was tested, selected and initiated as a Chief Petty Officer. Four days after his pinning he deployed for post 9/11 operations.
After his Combat Camera tour, Master Chief Call transferred to Atsugi, Japan and served as the Chief Petty Officer in Charge for Fleet Imaging Center where he led and managed five facilities spread throughout the Commander, Naval Forces Japan area of responsibility.
In 2005, Master Chief went back to sea aboard USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) where he served as the Departmental Leading Chief Petty Officer for Media Department. There he completed two Western Pacific deployments, was awarded the 2007 Commander, Naval Air Forces Leadership Award and was promoted to the rank of Senior Chief Petty Officer. He detached in 2008 with orders to the Senior Enlisted Academy and follow on orders as the Senior Enlisted Leader for Expeditionary Combat Camera, Norfolk, Va. While at Combat Camera, he deployed to Haiti where he led a team documenting Unified Response, the largest humanitarian effort in history.
After being selected for Master Chief and Command Master Chief he transferred to the “Wallbangers” of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 117 in Ventura, Calif. to serve as their CMC. While there, he completed an eight-month deployment aboard USS Nimitz (CVN 68) with the “Wallbangers” earning Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 11’s Top Hook and Golden Wrench awards as well as the Battle “E” and the Admiral Frank Akers Award as the best VAW squadron in the fleet.
Master Chief Call returned to USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) as their CMC in 2014. In 2015 he and 1,400 members of the crew hull swapped over to USS George Washington (CVN 73), sailed her “around the horn” to Norfolk, Va. and then hull swapped with the crew again back to California and to USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71). During this 41-month tour he completed two Planned Incremental Availability periods on time, a deployment and four different work-up cycles.
He also served as the CMC for Commander, Carrier Strike Group Nine embarked aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71).
Command Master Chief Call currently serves as the command master chief for U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, U.S. 5th Fleet.
Master Chief is a graduate of the Senior Enlisted Academy (class 143 Brown), the CMC/COB Capstone Course and MCPON’s Executive Leadership Seminar. He has been awarded the Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal (two awards), Joint Service Achievement Medal (two awards), Navy Achievement Medal (five awards) and various campaign and service medals.