Command Master Chief Kenneth Walton is retiring after serving 22 years in the United States Navy. He attended Crawfordsville High School his junior year and joined the Navy in May 2005.
The following is a timeline of his military career:
July 2005 - reported to Groton, Connecticut for Submarine Electronics “A” School.
July 2006 – reported to USS Hawaii (SSN 776), homeported in Groton, Conn., In the Navigation Division, qualified Quartermaster/Navigation Supervisor with homeport shift to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
July 2010 - USS Tennessee (SSBN 734) (BLUE). Qualified Chief of the Watch, Strategic Navigation Supervisor, and Assistant Navigator.
July 2012 - Petty Officer Walton reported to Atlantic Undersea Testing and Evaluation Center (AUTEC) in Andros Island, Bahamas, as the Assistant Range Safety Officer.
June 2014 - USS Tennessee (SSBN 734) (GOLD) Chief Petty Officer Walton was assistant Navigator/Diving Officer with eight strategic patrols and advanced to Senior Chief Petty Officer.
July 2018 - Assistant Navigator at Submarine Squadron 20. Oversaw training and development for 12 navigation teams. Qualified Command Duty Officer and Chief of the Boat.
February 2021 - Assistant Navigator aboard USS Maryland (SSBN 738) (BLUE). Served two patrols as Chief of the Boat.
June 2022 - USS Wyoming (SSBN 742) (GOLD) as the Chief of the Boat.
May 2023 - reported to Navy Information Operation Command, Colorado as Command Master Chief until March of 2024.
April 2024 - Command Master Chief of Navy Information Operations Command Georgia with 1,200 Sailors under his supervision,
Awards – Meritorious Service Medal (two awards) Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal (three awards), Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal (five awards), Coast Guard Meritorious Service Medal, and service awards.
In his retirement, Walton plans to live in Colorado and spend time with his wife, Lindsay, and his three children, Desirae, Brayden and Enzo.
