ACCM Mary Akande
Senior Enlisted Leader, Tactical Air Control Squadron 22
23 September 2024
ACCM (AW/SW) Mary Akande was born in Washington, DC. She began her journey in the United States Navy by entering the Delayed Entry Program in May 2001. She later reported for active duty at Recruit Training Command (RTC), Great Lakes, Illinois, in December 2001.
Upon graduating from RTC, she reported to Naval Air Technical Training Center (NATTC) in Pensacola, Florida, in February 2002, where she attended Air Traffic Control “A” School. Her first duty assignment was at Naval Air Station Fallon, Nevada, starting in September 2002.
Assigned to Tactical Air Control Squadron ONE TWO (TACRON 12) in San Diego, California, in September 2004, AC3 Akande quickly made her mark. She qualified as a Tactical Air Traffic Controller Center (TACC) Supervisor, advanced to Second Class Petty Officer, and earned her Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist and Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist designations while forward deployed on the USS Essex.
In 2008, her career advanced as she transferred to Naval Auxiliary Landing Field (NALF) San Clemente Island, where she was promoted to AC1 and obtained her Facility Watch Supervisor Designation. By May 2010, AC1 Akande had joined the crew of the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) in San Diego, California. There, she served as the OC Division Leading Petty Officer, qualified on Case III Marshal and Final Control, and completed her fourth deployment in support of Operation Tomodachi. Her leadership and expertise led to her promotion to Chief Petty Officer in 2012.
The next step in her career came in October 2013 when ACC Akande transferred to Naval Air Station North Island (NASNI) in San Diego, California. Selected for a one-year Individual Augmentee (IA) assignment to Djibouti, Africa, she served as the Air Traffic Control Facility Officer at the country’s only international airport. Upon completing her IA assignment, she returned to NASNI.
In January 2016, she reported to NALF San Clemente Island, California, where she qualified as a Facility Watch Supervisor and served as Training and Leading Chief Petty Officer. Her leadership journey continued when she embarked on the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) in Norfolk, Virginia, in January 2019. During a 10-month deployment around the world, which included a homeport shift to San Diego, California, she handled duties as OC/OI Division Leading Chief Petty Officer, CATCC Supervisor, and Operations Department LCPO. Her performance earned her promotion to Senior Chief in 2020.
Transitioning to Fleet Area Control and Surveillance Facility (FACSFAC) San Diego in November 2022, ACCS Akande took on the role of Operations Department Leading Chief Petty Officer. Her consistent excellence and leadership were recognized when she was merit screened to Master Chief in May 2023.
April 2024 marked another milestone as ACCM Akande assumed the duties of Senior Enlisted Leader at Tactical Air Control Squadron TWO TWO.
ACCM Akande has been awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (five awards), the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (four awards), along with various unit awards and campaign medals.