MMCM(SS/AW) Ashley K. Dwiggins

Command Master Chief
USS INDEPENDENCE (CV 62)

Sent to Recruit Training Center in Great Lakes, Illinois, Master Chief Dwiggins remained there and completed Basic Propulsion and Engineering School, then Machinist's Mate "A" School. He subsequently attended Nuclear Power School at Bainbridge, Maryland, and the S1C Nuclear Power Training Unit(NTPU) at Windsor, Connecticut. Following completion of Submarine School in Groton, Connecticut, in June 1972, he reported to USS ULYSSES S. GRANT (SSBN 631BLUE) in Charleston, South Carolina, where he qualified up through Engineering Watch Supervisor. The ship deployed out of Holy Loch, Scotland. In September 1976 he was again assigned to the S1C NTPU, where he served as a Crew Leading Petty Officer and qualified Engineering Officer of the Watch, and was then selected to the Staff Trainging Group. He was also advanced to Chief Petty Officer prior to transfer in October 1979. Serving as Machinery Division LCPO, he was advanced to Senior Chief Petty Officer and moved up as Engineering Department Enlisted Advisor(EDEA) on board USS SWORDFISH (SSN 579), home ported in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

In November 1984 Senior Chief Dwiggins transferred to Naval Submarine Training Center Pacific and served as the Ford Island Senior Instructor and advanced to Master Chief Petty Officer in 1986. In August 1987 he reported to USS HAWKBILL (SSN 666) as EDEA and qualified as Diving Officer of the Watch. He then transferred to USS OLYMPIA (SSN 717) as Chief of the Boat. Leaving Hawaii in June 1993 he reported as Command Master Chief to TRIDENT Refit Facility in Bangor, Washington. While there, he was selected to participate in both the 1994 and 1995 Chief Petty Officer Selection Boards. Master Chief Dwiggins attended the Senior Enlisted Academy from August to October 1995 where he achieved an Academic Excellence Award and was selected as the Honor Graduate of Class 68.

In November 1995, Master Chief Dwiggins reported to the Navy’s only forward deployed aircraft carrier and oldest ship in the navy the USS INDEPENDENCE CV 62 home ported in Yokosuka, Japan, where he is currently serving as Command Master Chief.

Master Chief Dwiggins' awards include the Navy Commendation Medal five awards, Navy Achievement Medal two awards, Good Conduct Medal six awards, Navy Expeditionary Medal, and National Defense Service Medal two awards.