CMDCM Eric F. Ralston

CMDCM, AMPHIBIOUS SQUADRON (PHIBRON) EIGHT

02 June 2023

Master Chief Petty Officer Eric F. Ralston is the Navy's first PHIBRON Command Master Chief (CMC), onboard Amphibious Squadron EIGHT based out of Norfolk, Virginia.  Hailing from Northglenn, Colorado, he started his naval career in June of 1995, attending Navy basic training in Great Lakes, IL, Hospital Corpsman "A" school in San Diego, CA, and Field Medical Service School in Camp Johnson, NC.

Beginning with his assignment to the 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment (3/8), 2d MARDIV - where he deployed with SPMAGTF 26 to Liberia, Africa – Master Chief Ralston’s career includes varied and distinct operational assignments.  These include 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines (3/6), USS Frank Cable (AS 40), USS Ponce (LPD 15), and Fleet Surgical Team FOUR (FST 4), where he served as the Senior Enlisted Leader (SEL).  Ashore, he served at Branch Medical Clinic, Ingleside, Texas, DoD Biomedical Repair School, Wichita Falls, Texas where he earned the Advanced Biomedical Repair Technician (BMET) Navy Enlisted Classification (NEC), and Naval Hospital Pensacola which included a deployment with Fleet Hospital Three in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.  He returned to the DoD Biomedical Repair course in 2008 as the Advanced Course senior instructor, the BMET Enlisted Technical Leader, and ultimately the Navy Program Director.

In February of 2017, after three years at Naval Branch Health Clinic, Parris Island, SC as SEL, he was accepted into the Command Senior Enlisted Leader program and reported to Milwaukee Military Entrance Processing Station as the Senior Enlisted Advisor.  While there, he was promoted to Command Master Chief before serving as CMC onboard Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron TWO SIX (HSC 26), followed by USS VELLA GULF (CG 72), both homeported in Norfolk, Virginia.

In addition to graduating from the Navy Senior Enlisted Academy and the Command Master Chief course, Master Chief Ralston's academic achievements include earning his associate's degrees in Biomedical Equipment Repair and Instructor of Technology and Military Science.

His awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (five awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (seven awards), Master Training Specialist qualification, and various unit and campaign and service awards.