Master Chief Karns, a native of Morris, Pennsylvania, enlisted in the U.S. Navy on Jan. 25, 1996, and reported to Recruit Training Command in Great Lakes, Illinois.
 
At sea, Karns served aboard USS Pasadena (SSN 752), where he completed two Western Pacific deployments in the U.S. 7^th Fleet area of responsibility. He also served aboard USS Olympia (SSN 717) and USS City of Corpus Christi (SSN 705).
 
Karns has served as the chief of the boat aboard USS Columbia (SSN 771) and on USS Michigan (SSGN 727) (Gold).
 
Ashore, Karns has served at the Nuclear Power Training Unit in Charleston, South Carolina. He also has served as the assistant navigator on the Commander, Submarine Forces Pacific staff, and as an instructor and tactics department leading chief petty officer at Naval Submarine Training Center Pacific.
 
Karns reported as the command master chief at Trident Training Facility Bangor, Washington in February 2021.
 
His personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (five awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (six awards), Navy Good Conduct Award (six awards), and various unit and campaign awards.
 

Last Updated: 4 February 2022