CMDCM(AW/NAC/SW/IDW) E. Thomas Ayers

Command Master Chief

United States Navy

Master Chief Ayers was born 14 May 1966 in Rock Hill, SC and graduated from Northwestern High School in 1984. He enlisted in the Navy in 1986 and completed Recruit Training in San Diego, CA. He attended the Defense Language Institute/Foreign Language Center studying Arabic from 1986-87 and was designated a Cryptologic Technician (Interpretive) upon completion of Phase II at Goodfellow AFB, San Angelo, TX in May of 1987.

In June of 1988, he reported to Naval Security Group Activity (NSGA) Athens, Greece for Aircrew duty. It was here he qualified as a Naval Aircrewman and served as a Mission Supervisor onboard EP-3E and EA-3B aircraft while only a Second Class Petty Officer.

With the closing of NSGA Athens, he transferred to Naval Reconnaissance Support Activity Rota, Spain continuing his Direct Support duties as an Aircrewman onboard the EP-3E as well as the ES-3A onboard USS NIMITZ (CVN68). It was during this tour that he compiled numerous combat flight hours in support of Operations DESERT SHIELD, DESERT STORM and SOUTHERN WATCH.

He was then assigned to Naval Technical Training Center Detachment (NTTCD) Goodfellow Air Force Base in San Angelo, TX, where he served as an Arabic Instructor, earning the Master Training Specialist designation and was selected as the Air Force's 316th Technical Training Squadron and 17th Training Wing Senior Instructor of the Year for 1994.

He returned to Aircrew Duty in Spain at NSGA Rota serving as Training Department Officer and Leading Chief, accumulatingnearly 5000 career flight hours. He retoured at NSGA Rota as an Assistant Cryptologic Resource Coordinator for Battle Group Staffs of the USS JOHN F. KENNEDY (CV67), USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN73)and USS HARRY S. TRUMAN (CVN75).

Two years later Chief Ayers reported to the Gordon Regional Security Operations Center at Fort Gordon, GA, where he served as a Senior Arabic Linguist and Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge of the Mission Management Branch and was advanced to Senior Chief.

He was then assigned to the Center for Information Dominance serving as the Senior Enlisted Leader for the Center for Language Regional Expertise and Culture.

His Command Master Chief tours include Navy Information Operations Command (NIOC) Bahrain, NIOC Texas and currently at Patrol Squadron Four Five in Jacksonville, Florida.

Master Chief Ayers’ decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with Bronze Star, two Joint Service Commendation Medals, six Navy Commendation Medals, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, five Navy Achievement Medals, the Air Force Achievement Medal and numerous unit, service and campaign awards. In 2007, he was selected as Naval Network Warfare Command’s On-the-Roof-Gang recipient for career contributions to Naval Cryptology.

He is married to the former Kimberly Ann Murray of Savannah, GA and has two sons, Avery (16) and Jacob (6).