AGCM (IW/AW/SW) Vernon M. Diedrich III
Command Master Chief, Naval Information Warfare Training Group (IWTG) Gulfport
06 March 2023
Master Chief Diedrich, a graduate of Fox Sr. High School, enlisted in the U.S. Navy on August 7, 1996, at MEPS St. Louis, Mo. He completed his Recruit Training at RTC Great Lakes. After completion of Seaman Apprentice training, he reported to the Pre-Commissioning Unit USS Bataan (LHD 5). Within his first tour, he was promoted to Petty Officer Third Class, earned his Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist qualification, and was selected to convert to Aerographer’s Mate (AG) and attend AG-A1 school. In 1999, he reported to AG-A1 school at Keesler AFB in Biloxi, Miss. After graduating, he reported to Fleet Weather Center Aviation Forecast Component Diego Garcia and within his one year tour, completed all AG-C1 school requirements and was promoted to Petty Officer Second Class.
Following his tour in Diego Garcia, he attended AG-C1 school at Keesler AFB in Biloxi, Miss. After his graduation he was assigned to Naval Aviation Forecast Component (NAFC) Corpus Christi, Texas where he qualified as a Forecast Duty Officer (FDO). In 2003, during his tour at NAFC Corpus Christi, he was selected for First Class Petty Officer. In 2004, following his tour in NAFC Corpus Christi, he reported to Center For Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit (CNATT Unit) Keesler AFB in Biloxi, Miss. During this tour, he qualified as an AG-C1 course instructor, earned his Master Training Specialist, and was selected as CNATT Unit Keesler’s Senior Sailor of the Year.
He was selected for Chief Petty Officer in September 2007, while attached to USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) and serving initially as a FDO, then became the Division Leading Chief Petty Officer in addition to earning his Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist qualification. In 2009, in efforts in training and instructing continued while assigned to the Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Professional Development Center (NMOPDC) Gulfport. During this time, he developed the AG-C1 pre-requisites that are still used today. In 2012, his first experience in Hydrography began at the Fleet Survey Team (Fighten’ Crawdads) while completing numerous hydrographic surveys in support of safety of navigation. He earned his Enlisted Information Warfare Specialist and was promoted to Senior Chief in 2014.
In 2015, he was the enlisted Career Counselor for the AG community while at Commander, Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command (CNMOC). Between July 2015 and December 2017, he revitalized the Career Development Programs within the METOC community increasing Retention Excellence Award recipients each year.
In January 2018, he arrived at Naval Oceanography Mine Warfare Center (NOMWC) in Stennis Space Center, Miss., to begin his first tour as a Command Senior Enlisted Leader (CSEL) for 65 enlisted perosnnel assigned to NOMWC. In May 2019, he was promoted to Master Chief.
In 2020, he transferred to Strike Group Oceanography Team San Diego (SGOT-SD) as the CSEL for 124 enlisted personnel supporting Navy, Joint, and Coalition Forces operating in the Third, Fifth, and Seventh Fleet areas of responsibility. Recently, in October 2022, he became the CSEL at Naval Information Warfare Training Group Gulfport.
Master Chief Diedrich is a graduate of the Senior Enlisted Academy, Class 197 (Purple) and authorized to wear the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (six awards), the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (five awards), and numerous campaign ribbons and unit awards.