Master Chief Rick A. Helwick was raised in Whidbey Island Washington and enlisted in the Navy on 10 April 1988. He completed Recruit Training in Great Lakes, Illinois and Operations Specialist “A” School in Dam Neck, Virginia.
His sea duty assignments include PCU/USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN (CVN 72), plank-owner, USS STETHEM (DDG 63), PCU MCCAMPBELL (DDG 85), USS HIGGINS (DDG 76), USS BENFOLD (DDG 65), USS SHILOH (CG 67), USS CHANCELLORSVILLE (CG 62). He has completed seven Western Pacific Deployments in support of OPERATION DESERT STORM, OPERATION SOUTHERN WATCH, OPERATIONS IRAQI FREEDOM, SEA SWAP INITIATIVE, and OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM.
Shore duty assignments include Naval Weapons Station Concord, California as Military Police and Sydney, Australia Personnel Exchange Program as instructor at HMAS WATSON, training command.
Master Chief Helwick was selected to the Command Master Chief program in January 2009 and completed the Senior Enlisted Academy and Command Master Chief courses in May 2009.
His personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (two awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (four awards) and various unit and campaign awards.
cmc@lsd45.navy.mil