Master Chief John O. Purvis
Master Chief Purvis is a native of Birmingham, Alabama and enlisted in the Navy on November 22, 1994. After graduation from Recruit Training Command Great Lakes, he was selected for the Ceremonial Honor Guard in Washington, DC. He then attended the Defense Language Institute (DLI) in Monterey, CA for training in Basic Modern Standard Arabic. Upon graduation from DLI, he attended C-school at Goodfellow Air Force Base in San Angelo, TX where he was advanced to CTI3.
He received orders in 1998 to Naval Security Group Activity Fort Gordon, Georgia. In 2003, he received orders to return to the Defense Language Institute for training in Intermediate Modern Standard Arabic and graduated in 2004. In 2004, he returned to Navy Information Operations Command Georgia where he was detailed to the sub-surface Cryptologic Direct Support Element. During this tour, he completed an Individual Augmentation, earned the submarines warfare designator and was advanced to CTIC. In April 2008, he reported to the Center for Information Dominance Fort Gordon, Georgia where he completed a tour as an Instructor.
In April 2011 he reported for duty at the Navy Information Operation Command, Maryland at Fort Meade, Maryland as an Arabic Technical Language Mentor and the Command Support Department Leading Chief Petty Officer. In July 2014, he returned to Navy Information Operations Command Georgia where he was assigned as the sub-surface Cryptologic Direct Support Element Department Chief. He was selected for the Command Senior Chief Program in 2016 and was subsequently selected for advancement to Command Master Chief. In January 2017, Master Chief Purvis reported to Electronic Attack Squadron One Three One for his first tour as Command Master Chief. In June 2019, he reported to AIRTEVRON ONE at Naval Air Station Patuxent River where he is currently serving as the Command Master Chief.
Master Chief Purvis’s decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal (two awards), Navy Commendation Medal (four awards), Joint Service Achievement Medal (two awards), Navy and Marine Corp Achievement Medal, and the Good Conduct Medal (eight awards). He is a graduate of the Senior Enlisted Academy class 197 (purple) and Keystone 20-1. Additionally, he holds an Associate’s degree in Foreign Language from Monterey Peninsula College and a Bachelor of Science degree in Commerce and Business Administration from the University of Alabama.