Master Chief Edward A. Vargas
Command Master Chief, Naval Information Warfare Training Group (IWTG) Gulfport
12 February 2026
Master Chief Vargas is a native of Texas and enlisted in
the U.S. Navy in January of 1998. After completing Recruit and Seaman Apprenticeship training at Great Lakes, Ill., he reported to the USS Nimitz where he was assigned to the deck department and later
was approved to cross rate to Aerographer’s Mate (AG) in January 2000.
Upon graduation from “AG-A1” school, he served as an observer and site waiver forecaster at the Naval Pacific Meteorology and Oceanography Detachment in Lemoore, Calif., until 2003. Following his tour, he attended “AG-C1” school and was later assigned to the Mobile Environmental Team San Diego, Calif., in early 2004. During his time on board he was selected to support Naval Special Warfare Group One where he provided METOC support to the NSW Mission Support Center and two Iraq deployments with Seal Team SEVEN. In 2005, he promoted to Petty Officer First Class and became a plank owner of the Naval Oceanography Special Warfare Center (NOSWC) San Diego (2006).
In 2008, he reported to the Naval Oceanography Special Warfare Detachment Norfolk, Va., where he was selected to Chief Petty Officer and supported Seal Team FOUR and the Special Operations Task Force in Afghanistan. He then transferred in 2011 to serve as the LCPO for Naval Oceanography Anti-Submarine Warfare Detachment Kaneohe Bay. Following that tour, he reported back to NOSWC San Diego in 2014 where he supported Seal Team Three’s Iraq deployment and the Special Operations Crisis Response Element in the UAE.
In 2017, he transferred to Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command, where he served
as
the MOC LCPO and was later selected for Senior Chief in 2018. In February 2020, he arrived at Naval Oceanography Mine Warfare Center for his first tour as a Senior Enlisted Leader and was later promoted to Master Chief. In October 2022, Master Chief reported and served as the Naval Oceanography Operations Command CMC. He reported to the Information Warfare Training Group Gulfport as the Command Master Chief in November 2025.
Master Chief Vargas is a graduate of the Senior Enlisted Academy (Class 207) and the Command Master Chief / Chief of the Boat Course (Class 20110).
He is authorized to wear the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (seven awards), the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (two awards), the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal and numerous campaign ribbons.