Command Master Chief Richard C. Schaefer, Jr., a native of St. Charles, Missouri, attended Francis Howell North High School and graduated in June 1999. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in September 1999 and began his career as a fire controlman. Schaefer is a graduate of the U.S. Navy Senior Enlisted Academy (Class 200/Blue) and Command Master Chief/Chief of the Boat Course (Class 169). He was selected for the Command Senior Chief Program in 2016, and selected as a Command Master Chief in 2018. He is a specialist in surface warfare. 

He has served in a myriad of sea-duty assignments, including as a fire controlman aboard USS Belleau Wood (LHA 3); guns division leading petty officer (LPO) aboard USS Denver (LPD 9), where he deployed to the Arabian Gulf in support of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom; and senior enlisted leader for Surface Warfare Det. 1, serving aboard USS Freedom (LCS 1) and USS Fort Worth (LCS 3) and completing LCS’s first deployment outside of the Continental United States. Most recently he served as command senior chief aboard USS Chief (MCM 14) in Sasebo, Japan. 

His previous shore tours include Water Survival Division LPO at Recruit Training Command, where he earned his designation as a Master Training Specialist. He was selected for Global Support Assignment and reported to Farah, Afghanistan as communications LPO for Provincial Reconstruction Team, Farah. He has also served as lead LCS/DDG 100X detailer at Navy Personnel Command. 

Schaefer has been awarded the Navy Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (four awards), Army Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (six awards), Good Conduct Medal (four awards), and various other campaign medals and unit citations.

Last Updated: 21 October 2020